Kara

We met with Kara's feeding therapist last Thursday, and we decided to do a short "trial". She mentioned that at 5 or 6 months, we might try a 10 day weaning process to get her off her NG tube. Since we were going to decide about a G tube this Thursday 6/23, I wanted to do a short trial now to see if the "weaning process" made any difference in her oral intake. (Since then, our surgery appt has been rescheduled for July 7 - again, I am reminding myself to trust our God who does all things well, because I feel like this Thursday would have been better!)

Here are the details, for those who are interested.
1) The norm. Each day Kara gets 7 feeds of 110 mL per feed at 22 cal/oz (it's all so scientific and mathematical!). Before we started, I totaled her daily oral intakes over the past few weeks. She averaged about 120 mL per day by bottle (yikes! Only 1/7!!)

2) The process. The last 3 days (Sun to Tue), we gave her the "normal" 110mL through the tube for her overnight feeds. The 6 a.m. feed, we gave by bottle then added 50mL of water through tube (to help her hydration levels but encourage her hunger). Next feed, 9 a.m. give bottle, then add 45 mL of milk through tube (down from her avg of 80mL through tube). 12 p.m. repeat the bottle, 50mL water feed. 3 p.m. repeat bottle, then 45mL milk. 6 p.m. bottle, 50mL water, 9 p.m. is a nighttime feed all through tube.

3) The outcome. She has eaten way more often (one time 8 bottle feeds during just the day time) because she HAS been hungry. Her oral totals have been in the 200s, with an alltime world record of 100 mL feed today at 3:45 - way to go, Kara!!

4) Some thoughts. Tonight before bed she was definitely refusing a bottle, but was hungry - would not stop crying until I started her feed. So, that is a good reminder to me that she simply cannot do it. She does not have the lung capacity. However, I am encouraged that we can babystep her to feeding independence eventually. And that she DOES eat a lot more when she is actually hungry. Which makes me wonder... has she ever been truly hungry until these last 3 days? Taking the long view of things, it's a delicate balance. We would like for her to be 'normal' and off the tube, but for her lung development, it is essential that she grows well. That is the Drs. main concern. Thank you for continuing to lift us up in prayer as we navigate these waters and choose what is better vs. what is good for our daughter.

One more thing... have we mentioned that Kara is now smiling, laughing, blowing raspberries, and making "guh" and "buh" sounds? Ah, the normal baby stuff. Does good to a Mommy's heart!