March 11, 2009

Demetri gained another 20 grams, putting him back to his birth weight. He continues to improve his bottle feeding and has taken 3 more full bottles today, not counting what he might take tonight. His doctor has discontinued the Caffeine (for the apnea he had the first few days of his life) because he has been apnea free for 6 days.

We talked to the neonatologist about criteria for going home. She said that she would like for him to be about 1200 grams before taking him out of the isolette and putting him in a crib. Then she said she has sent babies home at 1200 grams before. She also said she is comfortable sending him home with NG feedings (tube feedings through his nose). This is not the norm, and we would like him to be taking all of his feedings by mouth before he comes home. It looks like he will be in the NICU for at least a couple more weeks gaining weight and transitioning to a crib. The doctor also said that babies tend to grow better at home, so we are looking foward to when he gets to come home with us.

Here is our BIG guy holding daddy's thumbs after finishing another bottle.