I go down to see them at least once a day, sometimes twice. I've been staying longer and longer (usually about 3 hours) because I'm able to hold them for a longer period of time. The NICU is very pro-breastfeeding and very pro-kangaroo holding. What that is is me (or Daddy) holding the naked baby against our naked chest. It is supposed to familiarize the babies with our scent, and to let those animal instincts kick into gear. I used to love, love, LOVE doing this with Zach. I called it "doing the bug" because he would nestle up on his belly against me and sleep. The best thing ever! Well, I have to say that the newest best thing ever is to hold my TWO babies this way!
They are so content to stay on my chest like that, yesterday I did it for almost 2 hours and today I did it for 3 hours.
Other good news, they have graduated out of their incubators and have moved into a crib, together! Co-bedding them like that is supposed to facilitate healing and contentment. It's also freakin' adorable! Dylan's jaundice levels have come down and he is no longer under the billi lights. I hope he gets his little velcro circles off his head soon. They are both gaining weight and eating more and more. Dylan breast fed today and did even better than last time, and Trevor just wanted to hang out by my boobs. Such a breast man, apparently.
The goals they need to accomplish now are:
-Need to maintain their body temperature on their own.
-Learn to suck, swallow and breathe.
-Take all feedings by bottle.
Here's Dylan, modeling the famous velcro circles.
Trevor modeling the same circles. His came off several days ago.
Daddy and Dylan. He had his little hand wrapped around Daddy's finger.
This is my "I'm in Heaven" look. I'm holding Trevor.
The following pictures are from today. Jeff holding his baby boys together for the first time.
Forgive my awesome fashion in this terrible picture of me. It's our first family photo. New shirt, since I can't fit into anything I own and I obviously didn't check for bra strap coverage nor bend down status. I was mostly concerned about it fitting not too tightly around my tummy. Yikes.
This is the skin to skin kangaroo hold. This is actually my "I'm in Heaven" look. They were completely zonked out and did not a muscle for 3 hours like this.
This is the best picture I could get of them co-bedding. We had this lens on the camera that doesn't zoom so this is the best I could do. The crib itself is this huge stainless steel thing that looks straight out of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". Dylan is on the left, Trevor, the right. This is the first time they'll have been together since they were born, aside from the holding we've been doing.
Forgive my awesome fashion in this terrible picture of me. It's our first family photo. New shirt, since I can't fit into anything I own and I obviously didn't check for bra strap coverage nor bend down status. I was mostly concerned about it fitting not too tightly around my tummy. Yikes.This is the skin to skin kangaroo hold. This is actually my "I'm in Heaven" look. They were completely zonked out and did not a muscle for 3 hours like this. This is the best picture I could get of them co-bedding. We had this lens on the camera that doesn't zoom so this is the best I could do. The crib itself is this huge stainless steel thing that looks straight out of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". Dylan is on the left, Trevor, the right. This is the first time they'll have been together since they were born, aside from the holding we've been doing.
3 comments:
Ah, making me cry, this post is. Love it! Great heaven picture with the two boys, you look all glowy. Our hospital just calls it skin-to-skin but I think I like kangaroo hold better. So curious as to how it went with Zach meeting them. Fab that they are in their own bed and adorable. And love your classy look in the family pic. You can take the girl outta Antioch...
ps - did you see Shauna's twins are identical!
Oh and you need to change the title of your blog.:)
Hahaha....good call on the "take the girl outta Antioch..." that is too funny.
And you're right, I do need to change the name! Ok, now to put my clever hat on. Thks for the reminder!
Zach did great, kissed their heads, touched them. But then after the 4th time of Jeff saying, "what are your brother's names?" Zach said, "No more brothers. Go home!"
LOL
I DID see Shawna's post! I totally called that, BTW.
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