Millie's Milestones

THE hospital phoned at 5.50am this morning (Wed) to say Millie was not herself again.

This was the first time mummy and daddy have been woken by a call during the early hours.

They got out of bed, got dressed and went straight to the hospital.

Millie's temperature had risen to 37.9 degrees - almost a degree above its normal range of about 36-37 degrees.

Her tummy was fine, and her bile was still clear. Her heartbeat and breathing were slightly raised but there were no other visible symptoms.

However, the medical staff are being extra vigilant because another baby from the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) has been very poorly.

Although Millie was not very perky, the SCBU nurses are uncertain whether she is just under the weather or whether it is more serious.

The doctor is deciding whether to perform a lumbar puncture test. You can read more about this procedure by clicking here.

The nurses have taken out Millie's long-line. It will be tested to see if it has become infected, as sometimes happens.

Test results will be known within 48 hours. Meanwhile, another antibiotic has been prescribed.

Now the long-line is out, Millie will be fed for the time being through a canula which already goes into a vein in her hand.

But canulas are not ideal for Total Parenteral Nutrition and so a long-line will have to be fitted again after a couple of days or so.

This means Millie could yet have her hair shaved so that a long-line can be inserted into a vein in her scalp.

Mummy and daddy stayed until 9.30am before deciding to return home.

By the time they left, Millie's temperature had fallen to an acceptable 36.2 degrees. She was more active, but still not as pink as she has been.

Mummy and daddy will both return later today to see how Millie is progressing. We will keep you posted.

• The picture shown above was actually taken yesterday (Tue), rather than today. Daddy will take some more pictures today and post them later.
  

posted by Johann @ 11:36 AM