Days 104 - 105,

I didn't have time to get on and update the site yesterday but i wanted to say that Ronan did not come home today! The doctors wanted to do another download on him before they sent him home so we are awaiting the results of that.. They said he will most likely come home on Monday but we will see.. We haven't got our hopes up about anything to do with a homecoming because we would rather not be dissapointed at this point in time..

He breast feed 2 times today and sucked for 30mins with tonights feed so that side is still going strong and positive.. I will update tomorrow with the results but i have a sad feeling they are going to say they want to keep him in for another week! Mind you i don't know if i can handle it because i am so tired with running back and forth! Maybe i should take a day off? hehehe

Ps: Remember to look @ his new pictures from today!

Days 102 - 103, 

Well Ronan's operation was a success! He had a double Hernia and is going well.. He was in alot of pain yesterday as you would imagine but never went back onto oxygen like the doctors thought he might so he has suprised us all!

We have been given the news that he will be coming home this Thursday (less than 2 days away) so it all feels very surreal!! 

He is still breastfeeding everyday whenever i am there, which is normally for 2/3 feeds and also is bottlefeed which helps alot for when we are out, i don't have to flop the boob in public! hehehe

I will update you the day he comes home and we will have to remember to take a few pics of him in his car seat..

Days 100 - 101,

Well we took Ronan out for a walk today in his pram around the hospital and it was great! A bit daunting for me at first but i relaxed half way through.. hehehe

He has been breastfeeding all weekend and really looks for the breast when it's feed time, so he knows exactly what to do when he gets hungry, so that part of the journey is finally over and i am soOooOOo relieved! He has gained 30 grams in 2 days (apparently that is normal for a breastfed baby) so i am happy with that.. He was bathed and weighed by Mark today for the first time and he did a FANTASTIC job, like i knew he would and Ronan now weighs 4145 grams!

He is booked in for his Hernia operation tomorrow afternoon so *fingers crossed* he isn't in too much pain! After he recovers from his operation it looks like he will be home so sometime in the next week!

ps: look at his new pictures as he has NO tubes!

Days 97 - 99,

Over the last few days Ronan has been breastfeeding REALLY well! Yesterday he had 3 breastfeeds (he is on demand during the day) and today he had another 2 feeds.. Since being on demand (as he would be at home) he has been waking for his feeds, crying and it has made a HUGE improvement not only to him feeding but also my sanity..

He was weighed today and has lost 8 grams but apparently it's quite normal because he isn't getting the HUGE amounts that he was with the constant feeds however once he feeds he sleeps for approx 4hrs so he is getting the amount a newborn would get so he is on par with "normality".. The lactation consultant asked me today if she could use him as an example in a seminar for premmie babies which was awesome because he has come from being so prem to being able to actually breastfeed (it's not a common thing with premmies apparently)..

He now weighs 4115 grams and looks fantastic! They took out his feeding tube yesterday so he has NOTHING around or on his face.. He looks bizzare because we are used to seeing at least sticky tape on his nose..

We are still awaiting the date for his Hernia operation however since he is going so well with the feeding they may even send him home for a week rather than leave him at the hospital, so that was exciting but scary to hear! Reality will kick in soon that we will have our son home with us before we know it.. He is 100 days old tomorrow and apparently he will be getting a card to celebrate!!

Day 96,

Well Ronan had a 30min breast feed today and also had a 30min bottle feed this afternoon and took the whole 100mls. Starting Thursday we are going to try him with demand feeding where they don't top him up at all throughout the day and he depends on me soley to see if it helps him with his waking for feeds. He is much better than 2 weeks ago but it still needs fine tuning before he can come home.. 

We were told today that he is booked in to have his Hernia operation early next week but if they get a spot free he will be slotted into there.. He will be on oxygen and painkillers for at least 2 days after his operation to help him cope as he needs a general to have the operation performed.. 

Otherwise he is generally fantastic, breathing on his own still and is thriving! 

Days 92 - 95,

Firstly i wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone for their lovely messages and encouragement with regards to Ronan and his feeding, it really means alot..

Ronan has been doing quite well with the breastfeeding and we have now finally starting to give him bottles whenever i am not there and he is awake so hopefully that helps him realise it's time to suck for every feed.. He still latches onto the breast and continues to suck well for around 15/20 minutes however it's not every feed he acomplishes sucking but he is still trying very hard..

He is being booked in for his Hernia operation although we haven't been given a date of when he is going in so hopefully we will find out soon.. He has been off oxygen (low flow) for 4 days now and has constant high sats so it looks like there is a 90% chance that he will come home a normal healthy baby with no oxygen which will be fantastic! The results of his download were "very good" so he is doing extreamly well..

He was weighed today and is now 4kgs!!

Day 91,

We have success! Ronan breastfed 2 times today and sucked for around 20-30mins per feed!!

Ronan woke up hungry this morning for his 8am feed and did really well, then he woke up at 12pm for his 1pm feed screamingggg and sucked really well again.. It looks like taking the fortifier out of his milk might have done the trick.. The problem is that he wouldn't wake for feeds until now.. He breastfeeds REALLY well however he was always asleep at feed time and was never hungry so lets hope the waking up continues.. They will still be giving him a bottle overnight if he is awake and after 2 days of being off the fortifier they will be giving him bottles in between me not being there each feed so hopefully he quickly learns that he needs to suck for every feed.. 

He was weighed today and is now 3.9kg! He was taken off the oxygen again today after great stats on his download so they will do another download to see how he handles being completely off the oxygen, only he already had a few desats tonight so we will wait and see the results..

Day 90,

First of all let me say HAPPY DUE DATE RONAN! He was actually due to be born today but he had other idea's! heheh

Well we had another crappy day with the breastfeed ie: him waking up so there isn't much to tell in regards to feeding but otherwise he is still growing and healthy which is the main thing..

I did however recieve a phone call from the hospital to tell me the doctors have said to stop adding fortifier in his milk so hopefully he starts to get hungry!