Anxiety

Today marks two very big steps for Jackson: the doctor ordered him to be weaned down to a regular nasal cannula of 1 1/2 liters and to begin bottle feeding!! He nurse is going to wean him from the high flow nasal cannula to the regular (low-flow) nasal cannula at his 4 am touch time. He'll not only wean to the different cannula (the regular cannula is much smaller) but he'll also wean down to 1 1/2 liters. She also wrote that if he continues to do well, no bradys, room air, and no desats the nurse can choose to wean him down further to 1 liter! Can you believe it?? The nurse also called physical therapy and scheduled us a 4 pm bottle feeding! The nurse will turn off his continuous feed at 3pm and then we'll offer him 22 cc in a bottle at 4 pm! I am praying that he is ahead of the game at bottle feeding, shows off, acts like a rock star, and progresses quickly in his feedings! We've waited so long to get to this point, weaned his respiratory support much slower than we were expecting, and now am praying that he is super successful at feeding so we can go home! I realize that I am probably setting myself up for disappointment, but I can't help but be super optimistic (probably delusional).

So, all in all, today is a very big day for my little man! We are making some big steps forward, and I have great anxiety about this big changes. I keep praying that they aren't too many changes, or too big changes, for him and that he can successfully acheive these big milestones!! His gestational age is 35 weeks today (until 40 weeks we count milestones by gestational weeks. At 40 weeks we start counting by corrected age which is like he was born on his due date. For example, he'll be one month corrected age on September 28 because his due date is August 28). It's time for big strides to happen!

Current Stats:
Weight: 4 pounds 8.8 ounces
Respiratory: Weaning down to 1 1/ liters on regular nasal cannula at 4am. Currently on High Flow Nasal cannula, 2 liters, Room air. No apena or brady episodes or desats!
Feeds: Full feeds, continuous, increased to 12 cc every hour. Begin bottle feeding, 22 cc, at 4 pm today!

Goals:
1. Keep on growing!
2. Successfully wean to regular nasal cannula, either 1 1/2 or 1 liter(s).
3. Successful bottle feeding!
4. Continue no a&b streak (apnea or brady).

Wish us luck!!

With love,
Anna