A Gift from God
It’s been a while since Erik or I have updated. I think it’s safe to say that Erik and I have slacked off, although I am sure many of you understand why. This blog is to update you on where Brady is right now.
Last Thursday I somehow forgot to tell you what Brady weighed. She gained about 6 ounces from Monday to Thursday which made her 4 pounds 12 ounces. Considering her recent weight gains Erik and I figured she would gain another 6 ounces, but she didn’t. She now weighs 4 pounds 15.3 ounces. It’s so close to 5 pounds but I learn from my mistakes. Last time we rounded up she lost weight.
So, now an update on her health. As most of you know she has been having issues with taking the bottle. She has actually gotten better and yesterday took her whole bottle both times that she fed. Several of the nurses and the occupational therapist who helps Brady with her feeding believe that the issues she is having are due to reflux. They have her on the strongest medicine for reflux they have and she is still having some issues. They are going to do a test on Thursday to gauge the severity and consistency of her reflux. They are going to stick a Ph Probe down her throat and hopefully after this they will have a better idea of what they need to do which will most likely be surgery.
Erik and I have a few issues with this like any parent would naturally have when they are told there child will probably have surgery. Our biggest concern is that they are trying to do a quick fix to get her out of there. They keep telling us if she has the surgery she will be able to go home. From what we have learned from reading and talking to people who have had babies with severe reflux, there are some ways to control reflux along with the medicine without resorting to surgery. One is to thicken the formula by adding cereal, rice, (not sure the exact terminology) to it as well as letting them eat less in a sitting. Although, it seems as if making the formula thicker is one way the doctors generally deal with reflux, they have yet to try it with Brady. After Thursday we will hopefully be able to know where to go. The doctor’s put a positive spin on it by saying that she will be able to go home, but I would rather her go home and me feed her every 2 or so hours than have her go home with a feeding tube.
Please pray for Brady and her reflux. Even if she doesn’t need the surgery she does have a problem with it. They had to take her off her reflux meds to get a true reading from her test on Thursday so she will probably be a very uncomfortable baby until they put her back on them.
One neat thing happened yesterday. The March of Dimes is very involved with the NICN with doing classes and just being there for the parents of premature babies, and they have the little cards that say “ready, set, go home”. If this is on your babies bed it in a way means that your baby is close to going home. Brady has one of those on her crib now so that was nice to see. I guess someone told them that Brady was going to be going home sooner rather than later. It was just a nice surprise and hopefully it does mean we will have her home soon .
Thank you all for your continued prayers and support!
Brady Faith was brought into this world 12 weeks premature. This was a result of mommy having pre-eclampsia and there being a reverse blood flow to/from the placenta. Brady wasn't growing like she should and it would have just gotten worse. She weighed 1lb 7oz and was 11 3/4in long. To learn more about Brady and her family click here.
jean
October 1st, 2008 at 4:16 am
I think you missed the point, the surgery they are referring to requires a G tube for surgery repair recovery – not just for eating purposes, once the repair is healed babies usually advance on bottle feeds, also thickening formula is used when a child has the stamina to eat, it would be not be worth it to thicken formual when a baby is not able to eat the appropriate amount for growth.
Mommy
October 1st, 2008 at 7:13 am
Thanks for the input, but I can’t miss a point no one has expressed to us. Not once have we been told that she doesn’t have the stamina to eat. It has been nurses who have fed her that have mentioned they are surprised they haven’t thickened her formula. Also, the g-tube was mentioned to us about a week and a half prior to any mention on surgery to correct her reflux. I am really sorry if somehow we misunderstood what has been told to us, but the g-tube and corrective surgery for her reflux have been mentioned together only once. If Brady has stamina problems I would understand why they couldn’t thicken her formula, BUT someone needs to tell me that. It would irresponsible of my husband and I to not research and talk to people with experience and just not take something for face value. We aren’t saying we think the surgery is not necessary, just that we would like them to try non-surgical ways first. If that’s not possible then I am sure they will give us a good explanation as to why not, but they need to give it to us first.
I really do appreciate you comment and thank you for your input.
Kelly
October 1st, 2008 at 11:34 am
Hey Nikkie. I just wanted to let you know, I’ve heard alot of good things about a thickening agent called Simply Thick (www.simplythick.com) from preemie moms on BabyCenter. Just a thought if you end up needing to use a thickening agent with Brady’s formula. Hope everything goes well with her test! Keep growing little one!
SILVIA SPILLIARDS
October 3rd, 2008 at 12:51 pm
KEEP ON RESEARCHING, BRADY HAS BEEN THROUGH SOOOOOO MUCH AND YOU HATE THE THOUGHT OF SURGERY ON SUCH A TINY LITTLE ANGEL. WE ARE PRAYING FOR ALL OF YOU.
Jacqueline Micke
October 5th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Hi Nikki and Eric Trust in your faith and most importantly remember what I said to you a few weeks ago, you and Erick are wonderful parents!! If surgery is necessary, I am postive you will know what is best for your precious little girl. God bless you both and we will continue to pray for little Brady!!
Christina Mills
October 6th, 2008 at 2:33 am
I stumbled upon this website from someone’s facebook a while back and have been keeping up fairly regular … I just wanted to say that ya’lls faith amazes me and the way God has worked in Brady’s favor is awesome! I wish your family nothing but the best and I will continue to pray that things go well and that hopefully after all she’s been through they will not have to do surgery!!
Jincy
October 6th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
I can not wait till she is able to come home……I am praying daily for your family and tell everyone about Brady.
Keep your strength up.