When President Kennedy's son was born 5 1/2 weeks early in 1963, there was nothing that could be done to save him because his lungs were still too undeveloped for what medicine could support. Today, a child born at that gestational week 34 is an easy patient.
Born at 30 weeks, Madeline Quinn is definitely benefiting from modern medicine. In fact, it seems as though she is fast-tracking in the NICU as she makes progress virtually every day...
She has recovered from the pneumonia they detected when she was three days old, which had her on a CPAP - an uncomfortable way of delivering high pressure humidified oxygen. Quinn then was on a nasal cannula, but as of this weekend has been taken off that and is breathing room air. Because her airway is underdeveloped, she does have some issues with apnea and low oxygen saturation. This seems to especially be a problem when I am holding her and she becomes so relaxed she stops breathing, or when she is receiving a feeding (through a tube that goes up her nose and into her stomach). So they might put her on oxygen for when she is being fed.
The big milestone of the week occurred when Miss Madeline Quinn crossed over the 4lb threshold. For the last few days her ability to maintain her own body heat was monitored and she did well enough to graduate out of the incubator. As of yesterday, she is now out of the "aquarium" and into a regular crib. Now that she is dressed in clothing and swaddled like a little burrito to help keep her warm, she is all the cuter!
Hope this finds each and all of you well!
Mama Murphy
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3 comments:
Great photos.
Jonas
Great photos
Jonas
We love hearing all about little Quinn!! She is getting so big and healthy. We think about you both everyday and will continue to keep you in our prayers. Lots of love, Jill and Tom
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