a framework for the next few days

this is mostly a thought exercise to see if i can synthesize what the doctors said.

goal is less respiratory assistance and eating food both orthogonal (disconnected) from each other. The goal is to get on CPAP and start "eating" intravenously, hopefully breast milk and formula.

In the way of CPAP are the lungs maturing (should be good to go with second dose of synthetic surfactant), PDA (see bleow) and just baby tolerating it. So slowly they'll pull back on the pressure (PEEP) to see if he can do with less and the volume of air going in and the mechanical respirations. And then if CO2 levels stay good and "other stuff" (that's a technical word). Then they'll extubate (take out the breathing tube) and then try CPAP again if they can resolve the PDA issue. Maybe a few days.

PDA

They may also have to solve the this PDA issue which could be part of the breathing puzzle and blocks eating. Usually PDA resolves normally in most term babies. However first we have to find out if we have this ... so we wait in line behind to use the echocardiogram to validate that this is going on. Then they give up to 2 courses of medicine, indomethacin, over 48 hours. Unfortunately this medicine messes with the kidneys and so they don't want to feed until they figure this out. If that doesn't resolve it then they do some kind of surgery. Let's avoid that please.

What about this waiting in line? Oh right -- there are something like 38+ babies in the NICU. They even turned the regular post-partum nursery into a NICU room. Supposedly they're diverting mothers who who birth pre-term babies. So sometimes we have to wait. Not to worry though, apparently they wouldn't do anything sooner anyhow.

Anyhow, I got to calm baby down today which was fun. And my favorite nurse so far is back on (Ogechi) and he answers questions and gives data. I'm still learning how to talk to medical professionals to give all the data and not just the diagnosis. Joy and I like to hear all the data so we can ask questions. You know..it gives us the fiction of control. :-). So Ogechi humors us.