Meet Baby Jones

Happy Friday Mommy and Daddy! I weigh 3015 grams (6 lb 10.3 oz) today, up 25 grams (0.9 oz) from yesterday’s weight. I gained an average of 33.6 grams (1.2 oz) per day over the past 7 days. How about this weight gain? Aren’t you proud of me?

I was fed 6 times yesterday and I took 55-75 ml at each feeding. I received a total amount of 375 ml (12.7 oz) for the day. I nipple fed 100% of my intake. My last feeding was at 5 AM and I took 65 ml by nipple. My next feeding should be around 9 AM. I’m so glad you’re giving me breastmilk — it’s the best food for me! I pooped 3 times yesterday, and the last time was around 5 AM.

Au revoir Mommy and Daddy. I love the way you smell when you visit.

Love you so much,
Avery

PS: You know you can call anytime, don’t you?

Good morning Mommy and Daddy! I weigh 2990 grams (6 lb 9.5 oz) today, up 45 grams (1.6 oz) from yesterday’s weight. I gained an average of 32.9 grams (1.1 oz) per day over the past 7 days. I’m gaining so well that the nurses want me to teach some of the other babies how to gain weight.

I was fed 6 times yesterday and I took 45-75 ml at each feeding. I received a total amount of 362 ml for the day. A fluid oz is about 30 ml so this is about 12.2 oz. I nipple fed 100% of my intake. My last feeding was at 5 AM and I took 55 ml by nipple. My next feeding should be around 9 AM. Keep the breastmilk coming — all those wonderful nutrients are so good for me. I pooped 4 times yesterday, and the last time was around 1 AM.

Adios Mommy and Daddy. Come visit me soon. I love when you hold my hand and talk to me.

I’ll love you always,
Avery

PS: Just because I’m sending you this e-mail doesn’t mean I don’t want you to call.

Good morning Mommy and Daddy! I weigh 2945 grams (6 lb 7.9 oz) today, up 32 grams (1.1 oz) from yesterday’s weight. I gained an average of 34.7 grams (1.2 oz) per day over the past 7 days. You should be impressed by the way I’m gaining. This is just grand!

I was fed 8 times yesterday and I took 54-62 ml at each feeding. I also nursed once. I received a total amount of 460 ml (15.6 oz) for the day. Aside from breastfeeding, I nipple fed 97% of my intake. My last feeding was at 6 AM and I took 54 ml by nipple. My next feeding should be around 9 AM. Keep the breastmilk coming — all those wonderful nutrients are so good for me. I pooped 4 times yesterday, and the last time was around 1 AM.

Cheerio Mommy and Daddy. Come visit me soon.

Hugs and kisses,
Avery

PS: My nurse told me to remind you to call anytime you want.

Good morning Mommy and Daddy! I weigh 2913 grams (6 lb 6.8 oz) today, up 23 grams (0.8 oz) from yesterday’s weight. I gained an average of 26.7 grams (0.9 oz) per day over the past 3 days. This is a fine weight gain. I’m on the right track.

I was fed 8 times yesterday and I took 45-60 ml at each feeding. I also nursed once. I received a total amount of 427 ml for the day. A fluid oz is about 30 ml so this is about 14.4 oz. Aside from breastfeeding, I nipple fed 98% of my intake. My last feeding was at 6 AM and I took 50 ml by nipple. My next feeding should be around 9 AM. I know it’s a lot of work Mom, but keep on pumping! I’m worth every drop! I pooped 4 times yesterday, and the last time was around 9 PM.

Farewell Mommy and Daddy. Please sing me a song the next time you visit.

A million hugs,
Avery

PS: My nurse said shes’s always happy to talk to you about me.

Dear Avery -

I got home from visiting you at the hospital about 45 minutes ago. I pumped breast milk to take to you tomorrow, ate a sandwich, started Daddy’s dinner and now I’m sitting at the computer writing you this letter.

Wow, you are really making very impressive progress! I got to the hospital today at 3:00 pm and decided to stay for 2 feedings tonight (the nurses feed you at 6-9-12-3 around the clock). You finished your entire bottle (55 ml) for Mommy both times!!!! Yay!!!! You are doing so well that I really think you’ll be home really, really soon I can’t wait for the day when the NICU team decides to discharge you — it’ll be one of the happiest days of my life.

I love holding you in my arms. You are such a well-behaved baby (ALL the nurses have also noticed and commented on this) that you hardly ever cry! The only times you cry are when your temperature is being taken via armpit, your bottom is being wiped clean and when you are really, really hungry. I tried to breastfeed you today but I guess you just were not used to it ’cause you cried the entire time! You acted like you hadn’t been fed all day, Avery. You did suckle and milk started to come out, but you got impatient and wanted no part of my breast after 2 minutes. It’s ok though, buddy. We’ll keep working on it.

Your nurses today were Cookie (in the morning) and Kendra (in the evening). They’re both very nice, but they’re not Rosanna, Maggie or Tam. Your Daddy and I really like them because not only are they super-sweet, they’re also very much into education. The nurse you had over the weekend, Mary, was horrible! She got impatient and short with me a couple of times while I was visiting with you. She apologized later on though and blamed her ‘tude on caffeine withdrawal. Whatever.

Oh, by the way, while I was there today, I kinda saw a circumcision being performed by Dr. Chasteney right there in the NICU. I say “kinda saw” because I saw what was happening but turned away very quickly. Doc and nurse got smart right away though and put screens around them (well, duh, shouldn’t have they been up already?) The poor baby cried the entire time The little tot has been your roommate since you were admitted in the NICU, and tomorrow, I think he’s going home. I overheard the mom and nurses talking. I think the baby was born at 31 weeks and now he’s 37 weeks. His problem was just like yours — not effectively feeding. On top of that, I think he also has really bad reflux. Yeah, your momma is nosey

Well, I’m going to run. I’ve been up since 5:30 am this morning, no nap in the afternoon, and so now I am pooped. Turn me over, buddy! Stick a fork in me! I am done!

Love,
Mommy

P.S.
Today is your Daddy’s birthday He worked from home today because we had some really bad weather. A Nor’Easter blew through town and we had heavy rain and winds, and some snow.

Good morning Mommy and Daddy! I weigh 2890 grams (6 lb 5.9 oz) today, up 15 grams (0.5 oz) from yesterday’s weight. I gained an average of 40.0 grams (1.4 oz) per day over the past 3 days. I’m gaining so well that the nurses want me to teach some of the other babies how to gain weight.

I was fed 8 times yesterday and I took 54 ml at each feeding. I received a total amount of 432 ml (14.6 oz) for the day. I nipple fed 91% of my intake. My last feeding was at 6 AM and I took 29 ml by nipple and I was given 25 ml by tube. My next feeding should be around 9 AM. Keep up the good work Mom — I really appeciate that great breastmilk! I pooped 7 times yesterday, and the last time was around 6 AM.

So long Mommy and Daddy. I want to tell you all about what’s happening here, so come visit me soon.

Love,
Avery

PS: My nurse told me to remind you to call anytime you want.

Good morning Mommy and Daddy! I weigh 2875 grams (6 lb 5.4 oz) today, up 40 grams (1.4 oz) from yesterday’s weight. I gained an average of 40.0 grams (1.4 oz) per day over the past 3 days. My nurse gave me a gold star for my weight gain.

I was fed 8 times yesterday and I took 50-54 ml at each feeding. I received a total amount of 416 ml (14.1 oz) for the day. I nipple fed 81% of my intake. My last feeding was at 6 AM and I took 54 ml by nipple. My next feeding should be around 9 AM. I know it’s a lot of work Mom, but keep on pumping! I’m worth every drop! I pooped 4 times yesterday, and the last time was around 3 AM.

Adieu Mommy and Daddy. Please tell the family that I love them very much and can’t wait until they visit me.

Love, love,
Avery

PS: I love when my nurse tells me you called to talk to her. She says you should call anytime (except when she gives her report during shift change).

Good morning Mommy and Daddy! I weigh 2835 grams (6 lb 4.0 oz) today, up 25 grams (0.9 oz) from yesterday’s weight. I gained an average of 46.7 grams (1.6 oz) per day over the past 3 days. I’m gaining so well that the nurses want me to teach some of the other babies how to gain weight.

I was fed 8 times yesterday and I took 50 ml at each feeding. I received a total amount of 400 ml for the day. A fluid oz is about 30 ml so this is about 13.5 oz. I nipple fed 70% of my intake. My last feeding was at 6 AM and I took 50 ml by nipple. My next feeding should be around 9 AM. Thank you so much for giving me breastmilk, Mommy. It really helps me!

So long Mommy and Daddy. I am looking forward to your loving touch.

Love,
Avery

PS: My nurse said shes’s always happy to talk to you about me.

Happy Friday Mommy and Daddy! I weigh 2810 grams (6 lb 3.1 oz) today, up 55 grams (1.9 oz) from yesterday’s weight. I gained an average of 36.7 grams (1.3 oz) per day over the past 3 days. I’m gaining so well that I’m going to be busting out of here pretty soon!

I was fed 8 times yesterday and I took 50 ml at each feeding. I received a total amount of 400 ml (13.5 oz) for the day. I nipple fed 67% of my intake. My last feeding was at 6 AM and I took 50 ml by nipple. My next feeding should be around 9 AM. Thanks for the breastmilk Mommy! I love it!

My last bilirubin was 10.8 on 4/13 at 6 AM and my nurse said that was fine. I’m still on phototherapy treatment - there are bright lights all around me but I’ve got a mask over my eyes, so the light doesn’t bother me.

Sayanara Mommy and Daddy. I love when you come. Your visits calm me down and help me sleep better.

Lots of kisses,
Avery

PS: My nurse told me to remind you to call anytime you want.