Chocolatelovinggran
Congratulations for handling it so well, Cossy, and for the good news on Henry's progress.
What are the next steps for him?
Next steps
He needs to come off the ventilator, heās had one bash at it and just was not ready. He is ābreathing over the ventilatorā so apparently can breathe unaided, but not for long.
They might try again on Friday šš, but weāve all been reassured that this is all very normal.
Once heās off the ventilator and breathing independently, but with help (CPAP or other aids), then he has to learn to be able to keep his temperature fairly level on his own. His incubator is monitoring this currently and automatically adjusts.
Then he needs to only be on the high fat baby formula and tolerate this well, then the ālong line tubeā he has with proteins/vits/ minerals will be disconnected.
Then his vitals all have to be pretty stable, most of the time.
At this point heāll be assessed to be transferred locally to a Special Baby Care Unit.
He will hopefully continue to grow and develop his āsuckā reflex further and move from tube feeding to bottle feeding.
Then will come all the additional testing on his eyes and brain to see what, if anything, can done to prevent or minimise damage which will affect his overall development.
All of this will probably take the next 2-4 months. We were hoping he might be home for Christmas.
Then he will need a further operation to reverse his stoma.
But heās doing ok. He has come such a long way, and his journey will continue.
He has two very capable and loving Mummies, who will do anything they can in their power to give him a good life.
One is an infant school teacher, the other, my DDiL, is a twin, both born at 23 weeks 5 days themselves!
Both now adults, fully functioning and survived this 28 years ago. DiLās twin now has a 3 month baby herself, luckily full term. Warrior mothers with warrior babies.
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