October 13, 2009

Things are going pretty well. Both girls have turned the corner on their weight loss and having been packing on the "grams." Riley is up to 835 grams (1lb 15oz), and Reese has surpassed her birthweight and is now weighing in at 850 grams (2lb 2oz).
Riley has experienced a minor set back today. She was diagnosed with a small PDA (Persistent Ductus Arteriosus) the day after she was born. The PDA presented itself as a heart murmur and was confirmed via echocardiogram. PDA is a blood vessel near the heart that normally closes after birth, but which can stay open, especially in premature babies. Many times, a PDA needs to be closed, either with medications (up to 3 cycles) or if that doesn't work, then with surgery. The medication used to correct the PDA is Indocin. Indocin has some rare but "nasty" side effects, such as blood clotting, and in extreme cases it can cause a tear in the bowel. The Dr's approach when the PDA was first diagnosed was to not medicate and see if it could correct itself. For 7 days things were fine, but starting on Sunday, Riley was experiencing some minor respiratory "distress." Basically, she went from breathing "room" air (21% oxygen) to needing some supplemental oxygen, eventually breathing air that was 40% oxygen just so she could keep blood oxygen level up. Another echocardiogram was performed today and it showed the PDA has gotten larger. So Riley started the first cycle of Indocin today and should be done by tomorrow afternoon. (it's 3 doses total, 1 every 12 hrs) Unfortunately, Riley's fluids have to be restricted while on this medication and her feedings have to be stopped, this is all done to relax to bowels. So, we will expect her weight to decrease again, but we're sure she'll bounce back quick. Once the PDA is closed, she will be back to herself. She won't have any side effects.

We will let you know tomorrow late evening what we find out. Everyone is very positive that the medication will work! Kerrie did get to hold her today and she did great.