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Post date: Nov 19, 2010 11:41:52 PM
November 19 (PM) - On Tuesday evening and again this morning, I had the incredible experience of holding Grady Jeremiah on me! The staff at UAB calls this time "Kangaroo" since they lay the baby on the parent's chest. The doctors and nurses really encourage it because it is good for us (obviously!), but also it is really good for the baby. They say it helps stabilize the baby's heart rate, respiration rate, and oxygen saturation as well as increases weight gain and minimizes hospital stay, just to name a few. In addition, when a baby is placed on the mother's chest, her breast milk adjusts to provide the antibodies needed in response to the antigens on his skin! If your interest is piqued in how this Kangaroo position can really help a baby, take a look at this research summary article.
Let me start with two pictures...
I can't begin to describe how special this time is for us when we get to hold our baby. He is so precious! Words are inadequate to describe the feel of him breathing in and out and moving his tiny hands and feet as he lays on my chest. It really is a special bonding time.
Thank you for praying for him and for us!
- The nurses also have been feeding him while we have him out of his isolette. In this picture from Tuesday evening, you can see Julia holding his syringe of milk as it goes into him. I'm not sure what else to say since words cannot express the feeling in the heart of parents who have been longing to hold our baby that we normally just see in his isolette. As I close, let me also share two quotes from the doctors about Grady Jeremiah that they told us during their rounds this morning..."He is an overachiever!"
- Final diagnosis - "His cuteness factor continues to increase each day"
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