I can't believe it's only been four days since Brenna's birth - the days are definitely dragging together as we get so much information thrown at us and are trying to figure out our "new normal" of spending as much time as we can with Brenna, while still trying to make sure that Connor has Mommy and Daddy time too.
Yesterday, though, we were so thrilled to have had a "good day"! Evan and I arrived at the NICU in the late morning, and Brenna was about to get her first "bath". They lightly poured saline solution on her body and dabbed her off to clean her. She tolerated it very well and even seemed to enjoy it.
After her ointment was applied, it was feeding time - I got to hold Brenna's head up while Evan and the nurse fed her breastmilk from a nipple. To not overwhelm her as she is still learning how to suck properly, we squeeze the milk into just a nipple with a syringe a little at a time. The staff has just increased her feedings from 5 mL to 10 mL, and she had been getting most of it from a feeding tube...this time, however, she ate 9 whole mL with her mouth! We were so excited!
Another exciting aspect for us was that her eyes were open the whole time and for a while after she ate, and she was clearly looking at our faces and following us around with her eyes. It melted my heart to see my sweet girl be able to look at my face when I was talking to her!
As you have probably read, her eyelids are basically flipped outwards, and they are currently applying ointment and antibiotics to them to keep them moist and healthy...she hasn't been able to open them very far, but yesterday she was so alert!
Yesterday they also started her medicine to help her "shed" her thick plates of skin that she was born with, and so far, she has been tolerating it well.
It was so wonderful to have a day that was not dominated by tears and angst as the first days following her birth were, and instead have a day with hope, gratitude and joy.
Reading these posts reminds me of our days in the NICU less than a year ago. Our sweet little girl was born a collodion baby and is now diagnosed with Lamllar Ichythosis. Wow, what a shocker it is to us parents! Like you said, almost a 1 in a million chance! But what a huge growing experience now....and in the future. I really connected with this post - I remember the first time she drank breastmilk - first from the nipple, and eventually from me. Just being able to finally hold her was the most incredible day. I know how it is for you because I was there. I just want to say my life has only been blessed by my dear sweet daughter. She brings joy and love and a renewing of faith to everyone who sees her. I know Brenna will for you too!
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