An Update on our Little Bear Cub

Thank you to Auntie Laura for getting the word out and posting pictures of the most precious little guy on the planet! We've had a whirlwind of a weekend. I'm so sorry I don't have anymore pictures to post right now, but I wanted to get some more details out there and keep asking for prayers. We will get some more pictures tomorrow...I promise!

Friday - May 16


1:40 AM-My water broke at home after no warning. Looking back I may have had a few contractions, but nothing that kept me up!

2:00 AM -We left for the hospital. Bill was timing my contractions and they were about 3-5 minutes apart.

2:30 AM - Checked into our Labor and Delivery room. We found out that I may not be able to have an epidural if the heparin is still in my system from the night before.

2:45 AM - The nurse checked me to find I was 4 cm dialated and was going to have a baby today!

3:00 AM - The nurses become worried about the baby's heart rate and called my doctor. The baby's heart rate dropped significantly or completely during every contraction. Found out I might need to have a c-section to get the baby out ASAP.

3:30 AM - My doctor came in and began monitoring the baby's heart rate from inside me, on top of his head. He was indeed under stress because his heart rate was still dropping during my contractions.

3:50 AM - My doctor checked me again and discovered I was 8 cm dialated and was told to get ready to start pushing soon.

4:00 AM - Started pushing (although I didn't know what to do-we didn't do child birth classes and since I was only 35 weeks along, we hadn't gotten to the labor and delivery part in our pregnancy books!). I sort of pushed through the first contraction and then was told what to do!

After the second contraction, the doctor decided to use the suction on the baby's head to get him out from the stress.

4:17 AM - David Conrad Robbins came into this world with a very tiny, but perfect cry! He got cleaned up, wieghed, measured and wrapped up so daddy could hold him for the next hour or so while mom finished up her 'duties'! By the way...although I couldn't get an epidural, I was given something for pain after the birth for some small procedures, which I why I look drugged in the pictures right after David was born!

DAVID CONRAD ROBBINS
4 pounds 3.6 ounces
17 3/4 inches long
May 16, 2008 at 4:17 AM

David's blood sugar was low (VERY common in early babies). After being test 4 times over the next hour or so, David's just couldn't quite keep his blood sugar up, so he was put into the Intensive Care Nursery to get an IV of glucose into his body. He was on a little bed with a warming light above him. We were able to see him that afternoon and got to change his diaper, take his temperature and feed him. He did really good and we were so excited to be able to hold him a bit and kiss on him!!

At this point we were able to go in every 3 hours around the clock to feed him and love on him.

Saturday May 17

David continues to progress and is moved to his own isolette bed. This is a clear plasic box that can regulate the heat used to keep his body temperature up. There are little windows that we can open to be able to touch him, but they need to stay closed most of the time to keep the heat in.

When our little guy was first placed in his new home, he was on his side looking at us. We felt helpless as he just watched us. We had our hands on him as he fell asleep peacefully reassured that mom and dad would be there when he woke up. We learned this night that although we thought he wasn't getting better, he had graduated! It is best for him to be in his own isolette so his body temperature can be better regulated. As he kept his temperature up, the heat put out by the isolette was lowered.

Sunday May 18

A GREAT day for little David! He is eating more and more (even waking up between feedings to eat!), keeping his own body warm and regulating his own blood sugar. Early this morning, he was moved out of the isolette into his own, open crib! Another graduation!

I was discharged Sunday, but the hospital has a great 'boarding' program. If there are open rooms, parents of NICU babies can stay in the rooms free of charge! So we stayed in our room Sunday night in the hopes of taking David home Monday or Tuesday.

Monday May 19
Unfortunately, Sunday night into Monday morning David has a few MINOR set backs. His body temp and blood sugar were both too low. Not really bad, but enough to put him back in the isolette. He needs to use so much energy to keep his own body warm, that his blood sugar just couldn't quite keep up. In addition, he started having trouble taking the bottle.

Right now, our little guy has a feeding tube. He eats from the bottle about half what he needs, and then gets the rest through the feeding tube. The nurses decided to have him eat only through the tube every other time to save his energy and not wear him out on the bottle.

We went in for his 6 AM feeding to do the bottle (knowing the next time he would stay in his home and eat through the tube) and he ate his whole amount from the bottle!! He's wonderful! A small step, but in the right direction! He'll still have just the tube feeding at 9 this morning.
9:00 AM - We just got back from seeing our little bear cub, and his blood sugar is looking good, so he will be weaned off the glucose over the next 24 hours.

All of these things are normal for a baby born 5 weeks early. He just didn't have enough time to fully develop and needs a little more help to be ready to come home.

PRAYERS PLEASE

First for David:
*His lungs are strong and he hasn't needed oxygen - HUGE PRAISES!
*Pray for his body to continue to grow strong and that he will eat from the bottle and not need the tube anymore.
*For him to get enough food from the bottle to be able to keep his blood sugar up AND maintain his own body temperature.

For Dad and Mom:
*To rest when we can so we can be there when David needs us. (per a wise nurse's suggestion, I didn't go to David's 3 AM feeding this morning so I could sleep and be healthy to begin feeding David on my own)
*We are going to go home today so Bill can work tomorrow and so we can rest and eat better. Bill only has this week and next week to work and then is OFF FOR THE SUMMER!!

Now that you have all the stats...here's and attempt from the overjoyed mom and dad to put into words this incredible miracle!

From Mom:
Our little bear is just precious! He loves being swaddled tight and held close. David's tiny little body is so soft and kissable! He's a cuddler! I love his perfect lips and the soft noises he makes when he's waking up and falling asleep. I am loving being a mom and can't wait to take our David home.

From Dad:
You'll have to wait a bit to hear from the new daddy! He's now sleeping and dreaming about his beautiful son!

*Disclaimer: All spelling and grammar mistakes can only be blammed on lack of sleep and not on the proud parents!