They are HOME

Both Lauren and Emily are now home! They came home on Sunday, February 15 with monitors. They will be continuously monitored for heart rate and respiration for a minimum of 4 weeks. This was part of the criteria to allow the girls to come home. We went through training with a repiratory therapist on how to use the device, which will also record all events. They still occasionally have the Bradycardia, however they are all self resolved at this point. The girls will also have a home visit from a nurse to check their status and check vitals.

Gradual Improvement Pt. II

Both girls continue to gain weight, Lauren is at approximately 4 lb 7 1/2 oz, and Emily is at 4 lb 3 oz. On Monday during the day, both girls had no Bradycardia events. Stephanie and I went to the Premie-infant care class and I came back to see them. The nurses tried to feed Lauren a bit more and evidently, she was already full. Lauren had one more Bradycardia (self resolved). The goal to go home without a home monitor for heart and respiration, is that there can be no Bradycardia events for seven (7) days in the hospital. The Discharge Coordinator informed us that a high percentage of preemie babies go home with the home monitor. When they first come home, a nurse will also come and visit and assess the medical progress of the girls. Lauren had her "break through" moment and started nursing very well. Emily had already been nursing fairly well and they both had a good day nursing with Mom. Last week both girls were taken out of the isolete (incubator). This is a good milestone since both girls are now capable of maintaining their own body temperature and still gain body mass.