Day 16 Update 2

Hi Everyone.  I thought I would add some new information that we found out during today's visits.  We went to see Leah and Micah first since the lactation consultation recommended trying both at the breast today.  Before we got started though, both Micah and Leah waved to their big brother Harrison through the windows of the NICU.  Micah's bassinet is much closer so he was able to come right up to the window and Harry was very excited to see him in his little stretchy.

Micah did a great job at his second try at breast feeding.  He actually got some sort of latch-on and suckled for a few minutes.  I think he was even getting some milk from it.  He got frustrated after about 5 or 10 minutes though so I gave  him his bottle then.  He is now on ad lib feeds.  That means he is offered at least 45 ml of breast milk (not fortified any more) and can have more if he seems hungry! 

After feeding Micah, I handed him over to his Daddy and headed over to Leah.  Leah was being held by her Mema (finally!).  We had to change her stinky diaper before I could try feeding her.  She did a great job for one so small and for her first time at the breast.  She opened her mouth very wide and really tried to get a good latch.  She got a little milk, but quickly became frustrated, especially since she already had to wait while her brother got his food first.  She attacked her bottle and gave me some nice burps too.  I handed her back to Mema for a final burp, but Mema fell down on the job and wound up getting cheesed on instead!

While we were tending to the babies, the nurse spoke to the attending and told us that the reason Leah was out of her isolette and now in a bassinet was because he felt she was quite hardy and old enough to give it a shot, even though she was small.  And she was handling it quite well too.  The attending also said that we can expect Micah to go home Tuesday at the earliest, Thursday at the latest and Leah should follow within about four days!!!  That means that by next weekend we could have them both at home!!!

We then headed over to see Golda.  Mema and Pepa had already been in to see her and reported that she was completely conked out laying on her stomach.  Their report held true two hours later when we arrived.  We spoke to her nurse and she told us that Golda was misbehaving while she was on her back so she tried her on her belly and she has been great like that.  I have to say, she really did look very comfortable in that position.  The nurse also said that the attending for Golda called the surgeon and he okayed putting her on breast milk!!!  Therefore, all three are now on breast milk!  Of course, Golda is still getting only 1 ml over the course of an hour, but woo hoo! 

Okay, that's it for now.  More tomorrow!