Exciting Updates

Over the weekend we've had some really exciting changes! Lawson has yet another Attending Physician, Dr. Malcom, whose specialty is transitioning infants to home. He's also a big supporter of breastfeeding. He feels that the swallow study is an 'unnatural' way to check to see if breastfeeding is safe, since it is done in the lab and not actually at the breast. He believes that the best way to know things are going well is to watch the baby's stats- respiratory rate, heart rate, and oxygenation. Since all of Lawson's stats have been perfect during our previous breastfeeding sessions, Dr. Malcom has encouraged me to begin breastfeeding again! So that was some pretty exciting news for me! Because they're trying to help Lawson gain weight, they have been supplementing my breastmilk with 1/2 teaspoon of Infamil formula to add extra calories at each feed when they put it through the feeding tube. Now that he has begun taking bottles, they are still supplementing with the formula, so at least for a while, Lawson will need to take some of his nutrition from bottles but we can also breastfeed!

On Saturday, Brian and I split our day, so we could cover more time with Lawson. I went in for the 9am and 12pm feedings and Brian did the 3pm and 6pm. He took between 20 and 50mls each time! To save his strength, they gave him the rest of his feedings through the tube overnight. Then when I arrived at the hospital Sunday for his 12pm feeding, I noticed that Lawson's feeding tube was gone. His nurse said that Lawson pulled it out himself that morning after the 9am feeding. I guess he's ready to prove himself! :) They decided to let him keep it out and try taking all of his feeds by mouth today. They increased the formula additive in the breastmilk so that he can take less total volume and still get enough calories. As long as he drinks at least 40ml from the bottle or breast or a combination of both they consider it a success. He did great again today with Brian and me, taking every feed successfully!! I just got off the phone with his nurse (at 3:18am) and she said she put the tube in for his 3am feeding just to give him a break. She said he had been GREAT for her all evening! It's only a matter of time! :)