1 more week!
We have made it to 33 weeks and this time next week our sweet Jack will be here!
Things have been progressing smoothly. We will get an update on Jack's growth when we see the specialist this Friday morning. We are still all set for a scheduled c-section next Wednesday at noon.
Here are a few updates from the past week:
I got my steroid booster shot this morning. I had 2 initial steroid shots when we arrived 8 weeks ago. So today was just the booster. These shots should help Jack's lungs be developed enough even though he's arriving 6 weeks early. We've heard from multiple preemie parents that the steroids worked wonders for their little ones.
My gestational diabetes has been incredibly stable. In fact it had been so stable that I was able to go from 4 finger pricks a day to 1 fasting prick. Unfortunately, steroids can increase your sugar so I am back to 4 pricks a day as a result of the steroid shot this morning. My post breakfast blood sugar read was significantly higher than any I've had this whole time, but my post lunch was back to normal. My doctor said we'll monitor it closely to see if I need insulin and to make sure that everything is stable before Jack arrives.
Since my last post, we also met with a lactation consultant who reiterated what we've heard about preemies having some difficulty with feeding. She says a lot of times they tire out. So even if he has the sucking reflex, he may not be able to maintain feedings on his own. She also reminded me/confirmed that a lot of conventional breastfeeding/newborn parenting tips are not applicable for a preemie in the NICU. For example, a healthy full-term baby may be told to avoid a paci if they're exclusively breastfeeding but a baby in the NICU may need the paci to help soothe them since they aren't able to feed on their own. We will definitely be trusting in the expertise of the NICU staff to help us navigate everything that Jack needs when he arrives. So much will depend on how he is doing.
I'll do another quick update when we get his final growth estimate and of course we will let everyone know when Jack has arrived!
Things have been progressing smoothly. We will get an update on Jack's growth when we see the specialist this Friday morning. We are still all set for a scheduled c-section next Wednesday at noon.
Here are a few updates from the past week:
I got my steroid booster shot this morning. I had 2 initial steroid shots when we arrived 8 weeks ago. So today was just the booster. These shots should help Jack's lungs be developed enough even though he's arriving 6 weeks early. We've heard from multiple preemie parents that the steroids worked wonders for their little ones.
My gestational diabetes has been incredibly stable. In fact it had been so stable that I was able to go from 4 finger pricks a day to 1 fasting prick. Unfortunately, steroids can increase your sugar so I am back to 4 pricks a day as a result of the steroid shot this morning. My post breakfast blood sugar read was significantly higher than any I've had this whole time, but my post lunch was back to normal. My doctor said we'll monitor it closely to see if I need insulin and to make sure that everything is stable before Jack arrives.
Since my last post, we also met with a lactation consultant who reiterated what we've heard about preemies having some difficulty with feeding. She says a lot of times they tire out. So even if he has the sucking reflex, he may not be able to maintain feedings on his own. She also reminded me/confirmed that a lot of conventional breastfeeding/newborn parenting tips are not applicable for a preemie in the NICU. For example, a healthy full-term baby may be told to avoid a paci if they're exclusively breastfeeding but a baby in the NICU may need the paci to help soothe them since they aren't able to feed on their own. We will definitely be trusting in the expertise of the NICU staff to help us navigate everything that Jack needs when he arrives. So much will depend on how he is doing.
I'll do another quick update when we get his final growth estimate and of course we will let everyone know when Jack has arrived!
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