Notes from ICU
Doctor Hendry, OB, examined me in the a.m. He had a soft touch. My fundus is U/2.
Mary is my RN; Molly is a visiting nurse from Mercy Folsom. Ursula was night nurse until morning. All are wonderful.
Head doc of ICU is Dr. Ravuri = Critical care specialist/Intensivist
Saw Dr. Kazadi, OB. Looks very pleased with my progress.
Molly checked with the pharmacy. They say I need to dump my milk for two days after the drugs stop to ensure they’re out of my system before the baby gets the milk. Of special concern is the blood thinning drug.
My Drugs
Argatroban = blood thinner
3 antibiotics: Flagyl, Levaquin, and Vancomycin
potassium chloride (IV, liquid, and capsule forms)
Mucomist (protects kidneys and smells/tastes like rotton eggs)
insulin
Albuterol treatments
Advair
sodium chloride = IV saline
Guifenestrin for cough
Dilaudid for pain as needed
Atavan/Xanax for anxiety and sleep aid
Tylenol
Decadron = steroid
Mary thinks they’re going to kick me out of ICU tomorrow, but probably won’t discharge me yet. But I could possibly roll out to the patio to visit with my family.
Dad brought me a Jamba Juice. When they switched me from a full liquid diet this afternoon to a solid diabetic diet tonight, the rule about Jamba Juice changed. The nurses lectured me and then turned a blind eye. I only drank part of it, but it was good. The meal wasn’t too bad either. They got me soy milk instead of cow.
Visitors today have been: Jeff, Ruth, Julie Merkel, Mom, Ian, Asher, Glen, Lisa, Dad and Thomas. Suzi called too. Ian and Glen brought Asher to my window today. I got to see him but not touch him. I cried and cried and wanted to hold him so badly. They fed him a bottle while I watched because he got hungry and fussy. He looks beautiful. His skin is healthy and pink. His eyes were open and alert, though he couldn’t see me through the window. It was so painful to see him and not be with him, but I’m glad I got to see him! Got to visit briefly with Glen and Ian before they went to lunch. Mom took Asher home with her.
I got two or three drops of colostrum out of my left breast today. Tonight, at 5:30 I got some drops from both breasts. This is so encouraging to me. I want to breastfeed this baby so badly and watching my milk dry up through this illness has been very hard. At 8:30 p.m. there was even more! I’m hoping I may be able to breastfeed Asher eventually.
Night 2/6-2/7: Pumped three times. Watched TV. Had trouble going to sleep. This is the first night without the catheter, so I was nervous about wetting the bed. Blood draw–5 vials–at around 2:45 a.m. Pumped at 3:00. Asked for a sleeping pill. Slept until X-ray people came and put a cold, hard panel under my back and took an X-ray while I was still in bed. More meds to swallow. Slept until 6:45 a.m. Slept again right after pumping.
