We Have Poop!

You know it was a good day with a heading like that! The girls continue to improve with their ventilator settings and both have earned an increase to four ml's of milk because they are tolerating their feeds without a single problem. They have started weighing them every other day, so we will be able to get a clearer picture of their weight gain. Cadie weighed a whopping two pounds, ten ounces. That's not sarcasm talking, either. She has gained eight ounces since she was born and she's only six ounces from being a three-pounder! Maddie weighed one pound, twelve ounces. She lost just a tad, but it didn't come as a surprise due to the diuretic she has been receiving.

Now, in explanation of today's heading. I know it seems strange that I am so excited about something like poop, but for our girls, this is a big deal. It is vital that they have regular bowel movements: one, because it means their intestines are working properly; and two, because it is a natural release of bilirubin. Bilirubin is something that exists naturally in all of us. High levels of bilirubin can cause jaundice in newborns, and if allowed to reach a certainly level, can cause brain damage. The two ways of releasing bilirubin naturally are bowel movements and exposure to sun. Since the girls certainly don't get the latter, they rely on poop and the phototherapy lights. The phototherapy lights can cause damage to their eyes, so they have to wear soft-padded goggles as protection. Poop = no more phototherapy lights, no more goggles, natural release of bilirubin, and we get to see more of their beautiful faces! Maddie's nurse told us first thing that she'd had a HUGE stool that morning. Hooray for Maddie! Cadie hasn't had one yet, but we know she can do it!

Cadie's head measured the same today as it did yesterday. This means there hasn't been any further growth. We are still hoping the hydrocephalus will resolve itself naturally so no intervention is necessary. Time will tell.