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“I like this room. It’s like… a baby spa.”
Pam glanced up from her book and looked at Jim, who was looking out the window to the hospital’s courtyard below.
“A baby spa?” she laughed. “Okay, I know this room is nicer than the last one, but come on, don’t you think you’re pushing it?”
“Nope. He’s got his own little climate-controlled environment, good eats… I mean, my God Pam, he’s even got his own tanning bed.”
Pam laughed again and peered at J.D. in his isolette, stretched out under the blue phototherapy lights to treat his jaundice. With his little eye shields on, he did kind of look like he was in a tanning bed.
J.D. was nearly four weeks old, and at 4 pounds, 5 ounces, stable enough to move to an incubator in a larger, sunnier room. His CPAP had been replaced with a small oxygen nasal cannula, he didn't need an IV anymore, and he had begun receiving Pam’s milk through a thin tube in his nose. His sucking reflex was stronger, and he was able to take about an ounce from a bottle before he got tired, and the rest went through the NG tube.
Jim, Pam, and Dr. Grandy had begun discussing when J.D. could go home. He was now referred to as a “feeder and grower”; in order to go home, he needed to be able to take all of his feedings by mouth, maintain his body temperature in an open crib, and reach at least 5 pounds. At the rate he was improving, Dr. Grandy predicted that he would be able to go home within the next two weeks.
A timer went off, signaling the end of J.D.’s jaundice therapy, and Abby entered the room to switch off the blue lights and remove his eye shields.
“Tanning time’s over, J.D. It’s chow time,” Abby said. She turned to Pam and smiled. “Do you want to try nursing him?” Pam’s eyes widened.
“Oh my gosh, yes!" she exclaimed.
“Alright. Why don’t you wrap him up, and I’ll get the nursing pillow.”
Pam got J.D. wrapped up in a blanket and sat down with him, and Abby walked in a moment later with a circular pillow. She helped Pam put it on and get J.D. positioned, and scooted a small stool under Pam’s feet. Jim sat in a chair next to Pam, and Abby pulled a stool over to the other side as Pam unbuttoned her blouse. J.D. was already beginning to pucker his lips and open his mouth.
“Yep, he’s definitely hungry,” Abby laughed. “Okay, Pam, the important thing is that you need to bring him to the breast, not the other way around. It’ll be easier for him to latch on, and will prevent back strain. Alright, now stroke his cheek so that he opens his mouth really wide, and then bring him up.”
Pam gently stroked J.D.’s cheek, and he turned toward her and opened his mouth. Pam brought him up to her breast, and he immediately latched on. He paused for a few moments, and then his sucking reflex kicked in. Pam’s eyes widened.
“Oh wow… that feels really weird.”
“It doesn’t hurt, does it?” Abby asked.
“No… just feels funny.”
“Good. It’s important that he gets the entire nipple, and most of the areola, into his mouth, to prevent soreness. Right now, his mouth is really small, but it looks like he’s got a great latch.” She smiled. “Looks like he’s a natural. I’ll give you guys some privacy. Just call if he gets tired out.” She left the room, closing the door behind her.
Pam looked at Jim, who was grinning like a fool.
“Wow,” he said. “He’s really going at it.”
“Yeah he is.”
Jim watched in awe as Pam rocked back and forth, smiling down at J.D. Every few minutes, he would stop and then start again. After about 10 minutes, he stopped altogether. Pam pressed the call button, and Abby walked in.
“How’s it going?” she asked.
“I think he’s tired out,” Pam said. Abby checked her watch.
“Well, he went 10 minutes. That’s pretty good for a first time,” she said. “Alright, slide your pinkie between his lips and the nipple to break the suction. Don’t try to just pull him from the breast, because believe me, your nipples will get sore.”
“Wouldn’t want that,” Pam laughed as she unlatched J.D. Jim leaned over and kissed his head.
“Good job, buddy,” he whispered. He raised his head to kiss Pam. "You too," he said with a smile.
“Alright,” said Abby. “We’ll give him a little bit more through his NG tube. You did great, Pam.”
“Okay, my turn to hold him!” Jim said.
Abby laughed and gently took J.D. from Pam and handed him to Jim. She left for a moment, and came back with a small container of milk. She inserted a syringe into the end of J.D.’s feeding tube, and poured a small amount of milk into it, letting gravity pull the milk down the tube. She repeated the action a few times until the milk was gone, and detached the syringe. She looked at her watch again.
“Alright guys, I’m off now. I’ll see you tomorrow. Remember to burp him, Jim.” She smiled and left the room.
Jim hoisted J.D. up to his shoulder and gently rubbed his back. After a few moments, J.D. let out a belch. Pam burst out laughing.
“Just like his daddy,” she giggled. Jim gave her a look.
“Hey now,” he warned. “Don’t be mean, or I won’t give him back.”
“I’ll have to feed him again in a few hours!”
“Oh that’s low, Pam. Just because you have breasts…” he shook his head. Pam smacked him on his arm.
“Whoa, hey! I’m holding a baby here!”
She laughed again and reached over to hold J.D.’s hand. She looked at Jim and smiled contentedly.
“One more step closer to coming home,” she said quietly. Jim smiled.
“Yeah… we’re almost there.”
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Author's Chapter Notes:
Summary - Another big milestone for J.D.
Sorry it took so long to update this, but I finally broke through my writers' block! Huzzah! For awhile, I was seriously writing this a sentence at a time.
Sorry it took so long to update this, but I finally broke through my writers' block! Huzzah! For awhile, I was seriously writing this a sentence at a time.
Chapter End Notes:
Reviews are almost as good as seeing a wedding ring on Jim's finger!
J.D.'s new NICU room
Oxygen nasal cannula
A preemie being treated for jaundice
A preemie with an NG feeding tube
Pam's nursing pillow (called the My Brest Friend)
