Memphis lost another ounce. Even without all the re-flux, Memphis is still loosing weight everyday. So, nutrition and the nurses are trying to figure out how to get memphis enough calories for him to start consistently gaining weight. The lactation nurse did a calorie test on the breast milk and it was exactly as it should be (20 calories). It was decided to add some lipids to the fortifier that is being mixed with the breast milk. They want Memphis getting 30 calories an hour. Memphis got this knew mixture of food starting at 6pm tonight. Maybe tomorrow he will have gained that ounce back. As of now, they think Memphis is just burning more calories than normal baby because he is working hard to breath with the one good lung, growing, and just having so much healing to do. So much work for a little guy. It's funny a month ago we wanted Memphis to loose weight, he had to go on dialysis because of being fluid overloaded and now he needs to gain weight but can't because his metabolism is so high. His poor body must be so confused.

Updates:

Re-flux -- since Memphis received the TP tube, he is only throwing up around once a day. When he does throw up it isn't milky, it's a greenish color probably stomach acid mixed with some mucus. Every time Memphis throws up, he runs the risk of aspirating and getting fluid in his lungs. This could cause no injury at all OR it could cause pneumonia and even death. So, you see how important it is that the doctors and nurses do everything they can to keep him from throwing up.

Liver -- Memphis billirubin number is good as well as the creatinine number. The BUN is high though. It went from 29 to 50. Memphis is on a medicine to help his liver. His color is much better.

Kidney -- the kidneys are still looking great! His blood pressure is still on the high side and he is having to take a blood pressure medication twice a day. Recently they have only had to give the medicine once a day because the Systolic number has been below 80. This is great! I think the blood pressure medicine makes Memphis nauseous.


Hematocrit (total blood count)-- this is on the low side, it's at 28 right now. This number needs to be 30 or greater, if it gets much lower Memphis will have to get an IV and get a transfusion. Because Memphis has already had so many transfusions while on ECMO It may take his body more time to kick in and realize it needs to make more blood. Hopefully the iron in the vitamins that we're started yesterday will help with this. I really hope he doesnt have to get another IV.

There so much the body must do to function correctly...