BPD clinic - 8 months

We went for your monthly BPD clinic visit Thursday morning.  The older 3 went to the kids clubhouse.  It was the first time they had been to NCH since November...weird to think about...brought back many memories.

Anyway, you had a great check-up and I was pleased with the doctor this visit, unlike others.  You were 5.95kg = about 13lb 2oz and you were 24 inches long...twice your birth length!  Your weight still wasn't back on the charts, but you had caught up enough that they weren't as concerned.  The dietician said to keep doing what we are doing with nursing and bottles.  You are taking about half bottles now and half BFing.  Although the BFing is really stressing me out because milk doesn't come out of me like it comes out of the bottle and you don't seem to like it from me anymore.  I'm not sure how to continue...BFing vs pumping vs weaning.  I really want to give you breast milk till your first birthday, but every day feeding you is so stressful!

So the big question was how to wean your oxygen...this doctor wanted to go cold turkey off the O2 again, but I told her we needed a pulse-ox if I was going to try that after what happened in March.  So she agreed to switch the apnea monitor out (yay!) for a pulse-ox and once we get that we will take you off the O2 and monitor you.  I'm a little more confident this time that you will be successful...last time I had a gut feeling you wouldn't be.  We'll see how it goes!  We need to keep your sats above 95% or put you back on the oxygen.  Other topics of discussion were your hernias, hydroceles, and IVH.

I asked to speak with the PT too because I was a little concerned you weren't progressing as well as you should. (plus I love our PT and wanted her to see you again)  After a long discussion we decided we would wait until next month's developmental assessment before we decide if you need more therapy.

So I was playing with you on the floor after we got home and I seriously think you must have heard my discussion with the PT.  I did our normal work with your abs and trying to sit and roll over etc...but this time you actually pulled up and used your muscles!  And you did it with a HUGE smile on your face!  You were like..."Hey mom, I can do this!  I am strong, don't forget that!  I don't need any extra help with the therapists, I just need you!  You are doing a good job, all your work is paying off."  It made me so proud of you to see you applying some resistance and pulling up with your abs and arms.  We have some more work to do, but I think we will impress Kim at your next clinic visit!