PDA 2/21/13

February 21, 2013Melissa

Hattie must've really liked all of the upgraded nuzzling because today she began rooting around when it gets close to eating time. She searches around for her paci and opens her mouth real wide like she's looking for food. If you rub the side of her mouth with her paci she quickly moves her head to get it and grunts like a billy goat. Today Hattie breastfed for real! She ate 16 cc which is half of her feed! We weighed her on a special breastfeeding scale before she nursed and then weighed her again after. Every gram she gains equals one cc of milk. Hattie latched on with a little help from Nurse April and nursed for almost 20 minutes before she fell asleep. She probably could've taken her entire feed by breast but it exerts a lot of energy and burns calories so we don't want to be counterproductive. Hattie received the remainder of her feed through her tube while we were kangarooing.

Dr. Alexander said the results of the echocardiogram are very reassuring. Hattie has a small Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA). Even though Valerie told me not to Google it, I broke the rules. Now that I know what it is, I want to learn more about PDA.

The ductus arteriosus is a blood vessel connecting the pulmonary artery and the aorta. Before birth, this vessel is open and allows the baby’s blood to go around the lungs because oxygen is supplied by the mother through the placenta. When a baby is born and the lungs fill with air, the blood vessels relax and the ductus arteriosus is no longer needed. It should close within a few hours or days after birth. If it does not close on its own, it is called a Patent (open) Ductus Arteriosus, or PDA.

PDA is an extremely common congenital heart defect in preemies. It is seen twice as often in girls as it is in boys. It is so common that we are not even required to follow-up with a cardiologist at this point. Dr. A is confident Hattie's PDA will close on its own and will require no further treatment. Praise God!

Hattie showed off her most lady-like side and had an enormous blow out diaper for Dr. A. I had to change not only her diaper, but her clothes and her swaddling blanket as well. In fact, Hattie had three outfit changes today. How does something so little make so much laundry?

Our big girl weighs 1,775 grams or 3 pounds, 14.6 ounces. Her feeds have been increased to 32 cc. Hattie had a very quick bath tonight. She can't be undressed or out of her swaddle for too long since her ability to maintain her own body temperature is still immature. She seems to really enjoy the bath and only fusses when it's time to come out. This time, Nurse Jen gave her the bath and we watched to try to learn a different nurse's technique (and we didn't have to worry about handling our slippery baby!).

Chris kangarooed tonight and Hattie had us cracking up! She was licking her daddy rooting around for food and she was acting too stubborn to take her paci. As soon as the milk in her feeding tube hit her belly she calmed down and went to sleep.

We are so relieved Hattie's heart murmur is not an issue. It pained me to think something could be wrong with her precious, tiny heart. It is nothing short of a miracle that she's doing as well as she is. Thank you, thank you, thank you!