Sunday, August 2, 2009

Could be better, Could be worse..

So I just don't know what to think anymore when we visit the hospital. Somedays I'm told so much in a language I do not speak that its hard to comprehend and even harder to explain. But I'll give it a go. So the infection that Ella has is due to certain type of bacteria that spreads really easily thus her confinement. It can cause infection in babies or it can just lay dormant in the body. A lot of adults have this bacteria in their mucus and on their skin but it is such a simple bacteria that it does no harm. When a person has been exposed to this type of bacteria it is called colonization. This just means that it is now a part of that person and as they grow older they become immune to it, but with a baby it can or cannot cause infection. Are you with me? So we find out today that both Slade and Claire have also been "colonized" with this bacteria, however do not have infections from it. However, since they have it, they now too have to be isolated to protect the other babies in the NICU from getting it. In addition, they will have blood cultures done daily to make sure it doesn't cause an infection in them. The dr. said it is kind of weird that they all have it since they've been in incubators but it could of come from nurses touching one baby and then another or it could of even come from my c-section and them having contact for a brief second with my own beautiful bacteria. As they get bigger this bacteria will be less of an issue as their own immune systems will easily be able to tolerate it. Grow babies grow! So while it may not cause a problem, its just another thing to worry about although we are trying not to.

On another note we are still waiting on today's cultures to see if Ella's infection and Slade's infection (not due to the bacteria above but due to the common strepa...?? one) are still positive or negative. Once they are negative they will do antibiotics for 10 days more and then stop. We don't want them on antibiotics too long or they can form an immunity. Slade is still having a few too many breathing episodes (apnea's) so they are considering putting him on a ventilator for a few days to let him rest a bit and then let him begin learning the breathing process again. We are hoping that he just starts remembering to breath more often on his own so this doesn't have to have this happen.

Good notes. Well Ella was taken off the ventilator and handled it great. In fact, her cpap machine is pushing the lowest amount of "breathing reminders" than the other two babies already. All three babies are handling feedings well and Claire today was increased to 4cc's, Ella to 3cc's and we are still hoping Slade will get increased sometime soon (more food = more growth). And finally, I haven't heard much of anything out of the nurses or doctors regarding brady's (heart rate drops) this week, so I'm figuring those are getting better too. The little things definitely make our days and all babies are opening their eyes and looking at us when they are awake which is just awesome.

Once again, I hope tomorrow is a better day for the Milligan trio and that they have a growth spurt kind of day!

2 comments:

  1. Nicole was colonized with MRSA and was in isolation till she went home, it never caused any issues with her. They just made me visit Kaila 1st everytime. I'm saying lots of prayers for you all!

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  2. Thanks Lori! It unfortunate they all have it but hopefully when they get a little bigger they can all be in the same room together!

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