An update & Some amazing facts!

Hey everyone! Sorry for the delay in writing, I haven't been on my computer of late, and the mobile never likes to actually publish my blog posts! Grrr!

Well, Amelia is a happy (well, as happy as a baby can be) and healthy baby girl :)

She has had problems with a little reflux (and the dreaded colic), but apart from that, she is going amazingly!

I cant believe she is 5 months old already!

Anyway... She now weighs 6 kilos and is around 57ish or so cms long (i took a quick measurement while she was asleep so this may be slightly incorrect! hehe) She now takes 150-200mls of AR formula every 2-4 hours! AND has started on solids (just a few tastes during the day to get her used to different textures and things.) she LOVES pumpkin (which Nanny makes for her, as well as stewed apples and pears!) We have tried a few fruity rice cereals and she doesnt mind them either.

I thought I would also add a few amazing things that I found on Amelia's discharge summary that I was reading through tonight.

Born 30.11.11
22:43hrs @ KEMH via Emergency C- Section


Discharged from KEMH on 1.3.12
time in KEMH Neonatal Unit 92 days 
Intensive Care time 61 days 
Special Care time: 31 days 

Main reason for nursery admission was Preterm/IUGR

Birth Weight 850g (<3rd %ile) Birth Gestational Age 29+1weeks
Nursery discharge weight 3644g
Birth HC 24cms (<10th %ile) Length 33cms
HC on discharge 35cms 

Apgar Scores 6 @ 1 min, 7 @ 5min, 9 @ 10 min of age.

Respiratory Diagnoses


Hyaline Membrane Disease (HMD)
Chronic Lung Disease / BPD
Apnoea of Prematurity

Managements


Supplemental Oxygen - Highest oxygen concentration given was 45%.
Oxygen was given for a total of 1681 hours. Last given on 11/2/12. (around 70 days)

Ventilated on 1/12/11 @1.55hrs - Vent time 95hrs 25min (around 4 days)
SELF EXTUBATED

Nasal CPAP - Total CPAP time was 1332 hours (around 55 days)

Surfactant (2 doses given) first dose was given at 4hours of age)

Caffeine for 64 days.

Cardiac Diagnosis & Management 

Amelia had a PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosus. They gave her  Frusemide (a diuretic), Saline volume expansion, and Pharmacologic treatmnent of PDA (Ibuprofen).

Amelia had a few scans. The duct appeared normal on the 1/12/11. However when ventolation was removed, she had a small-moderate PDA, which they tried to close using Ibuprofen, but she was unable to complete the course due to renal impairment. When she had her final scan, Amelia's PDA had closed.

Haematological/Jaundice diagnoses & Management 


Anaemia of Prematurity
Jaundice - Prematurity / Physiological

Phototherapy was used for 25 hours (just over a day)
Amelia was given 2 'top up'transfusions to treat her anaemia
Ferrous sulphate was given also.

Neurological diagnoses and management 


IVH (Intraventricular Haemorrhage)/ PVL - Maximum IVH Grade was 1 ( Right & Left sides) There was no PVL demonstrated.

Amelia had 2 eye tests for ROP - NO ROP seen
Lumbar Puncture
Cranial Ultrasounds to follow up - SEH's were spotted bilatterally on 28/12/11 but by the 22/2/12 they had resolved.

Gastro-intestinal/ Metabolic & biochemical managements & issues


Reflux - treatment Omeprazole (Losec) given daily.
Constipation
Lactic Acidocis
Blood Glucose monitoring

Infection Diagnoses

Amelia contracted Septicaemia at 11 days of age. She was treated with Benzylpenicillin, Gentamycin and Vancomycin.

Vascular Access managements - Amelia had an UAC (Umbilical Arterial Catheter) for a total of 89 hours (nearly 4 days)

Nurtition Managements


Parenteral Nutrition for 13 days.30.11.11 to 13.12.11.
Nasogastric feeds (NG)
Enteral feeding commenced on 4.12.11 Full enteral feeding achieved on 14.12.11.

General Diagnoses
Prematurity <37weeks
Reason assessed for prematurity was PE/AEDF ( Pre Eclampsia & Absent Ended Diastolic Flow)
IUGR (<10th %ile)
Absent/Reverse UA Diastolic Flow
Reflux
Umbilical Hernia
Infection - 11/12/11 - 16/12/11 Elevated CRP Maximum level was 48.
General Management 
Morphine
Immunisations - with no complications
Audiology _ Risk factors present AABR done - passed.
Ibuprofen x 1 dose
10.2.12 Commenced AR formula.
Discharge Meds - Omeprazole, Ferrous Sulphate, AR Milk formula.


WOW, My girl and our family have gone through WAYYYYY too much in her short time together!


NO MORE hospitals for a while! 


Anyway, that was most of the d/c summary from the hospital. It's quite informative. But I thought it would have been SOOO much longer! haha Im glad its not.

Anyway, enough for tonight, Amelia is in bed. And im not far behind... :)

Ciao!

Green for Prems day is this Wednesday!

Please wear green on wednesday the 4th April 2012 to raise awareness of premature miracles like Amelia Jayde.

If you would like to donate to a charity, please donate to PMH foundation or KEMH. Donations can even be knitted cardigans, socks, vests, hats etc for the babies or money for the equipment needed to keep babies who were born like Amelia alive.

We are so greatful for all the support and because our special little girl is here and very healthy.

Thankyou xx

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4 months already?

Amelia has only just had her 4 month old injections.

My poor bub screamed her head off, until I grabbed her bottle.

The nurse seemed so rough putting them in. Was so hard seeing my baby girl suffer like that. Although, in the long run I know these immunizations are good for her.

They initially made her very grizzly. She had a massive tummy ache because of the oral rotavirus liquid. :( never heard her squeal so much in pain before.

Anyway, I also got her discharge summary which I will type out (its quite long) she had a lot of issues but it just proved how much of a miracle she is.

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being mum to a prem is hard...

I HATE shopping, I HATE people. Every time I take Amelia shopping its always "oh she's soooo tiny how old is she?" When I say 4 months people look at me and ask if she's physically okay, then I have to tell them the story that crushes my soul every time I re-live it.

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Our first mini photo shoot at home! :)

Just thought I'd update with some more pics and show you how much my Amelia has grown. We had her weighed at the local chemist and she is 4.5kilos now! :)

Here are some pics from a mini photo shoot we done last week...

Enjoy!

I can't believe it... pics included xx

We came out the other side.

Amelia had such a rough journey into the world nearly 4 months ago. And now I have her home in my arms. I'm able to pick her up when ever I like and venture out with her whenever I like. I want to show her the world that she had missed out on.

Looking back at the time spent in the NICU, I didn't think we would be here today. I never thought I would be holding my beautiful baby girl in the comfort of my own home, with no monitors or nurses around. I honestly thought she would not see the outside of a hospital.

A few friends gave birth shortly after I did, magical births with healthy take home babies. I felt happy for them on the outside, but inside I was crushed. I was jealous! Why didn't I get the birth I wanted and deserved? After trying to conceive Amelia for so long. Why did it go pear shaped. Why wasn't it picked up sooner? I was actually infuriated and started to spiral into a great depressive state. But, soon after I realised that had I NOT delivered her when I did... We both would have died. Amelia was so tiny because of IUGR, which is IntraUterine Growth Restriction, a common ocurrance with severe pre eclampsia. Which means baby doesn't get enough nutrients to grow because my cord running from my placenta to her was not flowing as it should.

I really couldn't believe the day she was born. I couldn't believe that day I was about to cancel my OB appointment.

Life is TRULY AMAZING. I'm so blessed to have such an amazingly strong family. I'm greatful for my AMAZING husband and daughter. I don't know what I would have done without them by my side.

Enough blabbering from me, until next time...

Thankyou to our followers... Don't worry, the journey continues and so do the posts. (just not as frequently lol)

Xx

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The first week home :)

Well our first week home has been packed full of tantrums, cuddles, smiles, and many happy moments.

The CHN hasn't come out to the house yet, but I'm pretty sure Amelia has put on weight. She feels so much heavier.

Anyway I will update you all later when the CHN has been tomorrow.

Enjoy the piccys xx

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