Update on Maxim

Last week was a rough week as Maxim was moved to the C pod and was back with an IV getting fluids and antibiotics.  He also was not given food for a few days which was rough on me.  He was obviously hungry, but there was nothing I could do.  That was tough.

Here is the update on that bacterial infection
So good news, it doesn’t look like it is anything to do with his digestive system (NEC). However, his blood culture did come back with a small bacterial infection – they figured out what specific organism it was and treated it with a specific antibiotic that targets that organism.  They didn't expect him to get any worse since he had been on antibiotics since Sunday. He was on antibiotics for a week and was taken off them at 11pm on Saturday night and it is likely that completely wiped out the bacterial infection.  The doctor said if he were to get any infection this is the one to get since it's so minimal.  To ensure it was not meningitis they did a spinal tap last Monday to ensure the infection isn’t in his spinal fluid and that came back negative...phew!  He looked good all last week and was active and he wanted to eat, which are all great signs! The blood that showed up in his stool last Sunday was a “tiny tiny” drop with nothing since. They will start feedings again this weekend...probably Saturday.

They started feedings again late on Wednesday last week.  It was like starting over as they started with 5ml and increased his feedings every 12 hours or so.  This was to watch his stools to see how he does to make sure there is no more blood.  He is now up to 45ml of fortified breast milk which is his max on feedings.  This caused him not to poop for quite a few days.  The nurses and doctors were not worried about it so I was not either.  This would take some time for him to get back on track. He finally had a tiny poop on Saturday so I was pretty happy about that. 

I got to experience my first blow out from him on Sunday night. It was crazy!  This tiny little boy had the loudest fart I have ever heard followed by a ton of poop...twice!  I changed him and got him all cleaned up and then I did it again. I couldn't help but laugh at him and the situation.  I was not grossed out at all, but instead I thought it was HI-larious!

As of yesterday, he is 34 weeks gestational age and tomorrow will mark 4 weeks of him being in the NICU.  I can't believe I have survived 4 weeks of him being in the NICU...of course with plenty of tears along the way though. 

Mamma's big guy!



Getting fluids and antibiotics with the IV in my head.



IV is out and I sleep like mommy with my arms above my head.  I am back in my crib as long as I can maintain my temperature on my own like a big boy.