Not much new to report today. His potassium level dropped a little this morning, so they added potassium to his IV fluids. His gut seems to be working a little more, so they have decided to gradually increase his tube feeding to 2 mL every 3 hours. His bilirubin level continues to decrease, so he's still off the lights. I got to hold him for 1:30 today, and he seemed to like it.
He's just hanging out doing what he needs to do: growing. He has been gaining about 20 grams a day (30 grams = 1 oz). He's at 1030g, or 2 lbs 4 oz, as of last night, so by tonight's weigh-in, I think he should be at his birth weight of 1050 g, or 2 lbs 5 oz (I'll let you know for sure tomorrow). Right on schedule!
Here's something kind of cool. The neonatologist was telling us how IUGR babies tend to have a good outcome. They were stressed so much in utero, that with all the cortisol production, their lungs become more developed, so they breathe well on the outside. They also tend to thrive on the outside, as far as growth goes, to make up for lost time in utero. It was good he waited as long as he did for his basic development, but it was good he was born when he was, also, because he will probably grow better now.
Here's a picture from when Joshua was 4 days old.
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