Millie's Milestones

MILLIE is one week old today.

From being a little bundle of joy about whom we were very worried, she is now a bundle of joy showing real signs of progress.

Her weight has increased by a further 44 grammes (about 1 1/2 ounces) over the past 24 hours.

She now weighs 2lb 9 1/2oz.

This daily weight gain might not sound very much, but it is the equivalent of a 12 stone person putting on more than 6lb in a day.

It shows how hard Millie is working and we are very proud of her.

Her milk has been increased to 2ml every two hours and tomorrow it will be increased again to 3ml every two hours - if all goes well.

She has even managed to lick a drop from the end of the syringe.

Because Millie's size means she is unable to breast feed, we have been advised to buy a very small dummy so she can get used to sucking.

The nurses say this will help her to learn how to feed from her mummy's breasts.

When it comes to premature babies, the hospital says the advantages of carefully using a dummy outweighs any possible disadvantages.

Studies have shown that premature babies who use a dummy transfer more quickly from tube feeding to breast feeding.

Using a dummy can also result in shorter hospital stays for pre-term infants.

Meanwhile, mummy continues to express her milk.

She hasn't had more than four hours sleep a night over the past seven days.

It's important to express milk during the night - just like you would get up to feed a baby.

Last night, mummy went down to the Special Care Baby Unit at 3am. The nurses made her a cup of tea.

Daddy is also tired. He works every day and then goes to the hospital in the evenings. But at least he doesn't have to express milk.

This afternoon he woke up on the sofa to find that Lincoln City had won again and are now in a play-off position for promotion.

Not a bad day all round!

posted by Johann @ 5:53 PM