Up To This Point (Part 2): Jackson's Story

Being born so early (3 months and a day) and so little (2 pounds 2 oz) meant a long recovery for Jackson. The doctors prepped us at first by telling us that we'd be there about 10 weeks. We celebrated his 5 week birthday yesterday. At first, he was on a ventilator and IV feedings. He was also on medicine to help his blood pressure (his was too low) and blood transfusions to help his anemia. The doctors said that he wasn't getting enough of what he needed due to the issues with my placenta and he had lost some blood during labor. For the first few days we weren't able to hold him and we could touch him a little bit, but he was very prone to over-stimulation (most preemies are). He also began treatment for jaundice (again very common).
By the end of the first week, he was still on the ventilator but he was doing well. They began trophic feeds (2 ccs every 3 hours) and we had gotten to change his diaper!! I never thought I would be excited to be peed on, but every time he does it I get super excited, clap, and say "Good job, Jackson! Way to go baby!" :) Getting peed on... such a blessing! I was allowed to begin holding him (skin to skin) this week.. and I've never been happier in my whole life. I was totally and completely in love with my baby.


By the end of the second week, the doctors had tried to take him off the vent and try CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure). Sadly, Jackson wasn't ready so he went back on the vent.
He also had a brain ultrasound done this week which revealed he had grade one brain bleeds on both sides of his brain. Of course, at first I freaked out, but the doctors explained that this was very minor, very common, and would result in no permanent damage. ::sigh of relief:: In fact, my daddy told me that I had a grade one brain bleed at birth and look how I turned out! (Okay, maybe not the best example... moving on) Jackson had made it up to full feeds (14 ccs through his feeding tube). He is a great eater!!His echocardiogram also revealed that his PDA was open (a little duct in the heart that is open in utero to allow some blood to bypass the lungs from the heart and go directly to the rest of the body. The placenta oxygenates the blood in utero so the lungs aren't needed... the PDA should close at birth but often doesn't in preemies). So, Jackson began medicine to help his PDA close and had to reduce his feedings down to 2ccs again. The dance of preemies: 1 step forward, 2 steps back.
By the end of week three, the doctors had tried Jackson on the CPAP again, but the prongs bruised his septum, they tried to decrease him to a nasal canella, but he wasn't ready. So, back on the vent he went! On his three-week birthday he was transferred over to Scottish Rite Children's Hospital to have his PDA closed surgecially. Of course, we were scared, but we knew from talking to other parents that it was a minor surgery and he would progress so much better afterwards!


By the end of week four, Jackson was back "home" at Northside, off the vent (finally!) and on CPAP bubble of seven (it ranges from 10 to 4). He also began feeding again and would make it up to full feeds (21 ccs every three hours) through his feeding tube. He had to have breathing treatments every 12 hours and a medicine to help get rid of fluid retention, but he was doing well!
By the end of week five, Jackson weighed 3 pounds 4 ounces and was on Bubble CPAP of six! The great thing about bubble is that it means that Jackson is breathing on his own. The vent forces air into Jackson so he doesn't have to breathe... on CPAP, Jackson is doing all of the breathing on his own. The CPAP gives him pressure to keep the air sacs in his lungs open and oxygen to help him oxygenate. His feedings have increased to 24 ccs every three hours and best of all... HE IS SUCKING ON HIS PACI!!! I get to hold him every day (skin to skin) for about 2 hours. He still isn't allowed to wear clothes (not until he gets a little bigger, gets moved into a different isolate, and is off of CPAP onto a nasal cannula).



It has been a long journey so far. I visit him every day for at least 5 hours. I spend the whole time looking at the monitors willing him to get better faster so he can move up to the penthouse (the 7th floor... a less intensive unit) and then to be able to come home. I'm looking forward to dressing him, breastfeeding, getting him off respiratory support, and best of all, picking him up and loving on him without the nurses moving him. :)

With love,
Anna