Day 4 post surgery - Mr Grunty

Wren did well overnight other than a spell of distressed crying due to pain. His incision is a bit raw and they are giving him tylenol regularly.

Meanwhile, he has far fewer monitoring lines (which freaks me out but makes him feel more comfortable). Monitors record BP at 30 minute intervals, heartrate, respiration and temperature underarm. All those results are good although he breaths faster when he's upset.

The work of the day is to EAT! Yes, he has graduated to breastmilk at 2CC / hr for 24 hours delivered via nose-tube. He had a few CC by mouth and got very upset that it stopped. He is clearly feeling tummy hungry and is quiet complainy and grunty for longish periods. The doctor said it is important in coarc babies to keep the introduction of food very slow. Under coarc conditions the bowel is not properly infused with blood and after the coarc is repaired the blood flow is good but the base capilliary size is small so if food is introduced too fast the bowel can constrict, shutting down and slowing motility. This can lead to sepsis through bacteria in the stomach contents. At least, that's what the doc said in some form.

I was there for his first colostrum syringe and he was quite and very very keen. Afterwards he was able to tell us he wanted more and was pissed off we didn't give it. The binky was not sufficient (the nurse said he was not fooled).

He is off diuretics (went -400CC overnight) and they are going to try and avoid morphine.

Feet feel warm. They were 35 degrees when they took off the foot temp probe. I would prefer it to be in place but they will take them at intervals and feel the feet regularly.

So, good signs for now. We had only ONE DOCTOR at our room on rounds (although a whole team were going about). This is a good sign :) Our nurse even hinted that if not for the weekend and holiday they may send us to step-down general surgery ward soon.

Frost came for a visit later on and sang songs. He said it was the "worst day of his life" when Wren started crying but he was smiling. He thinks Wren is very cute and small.