Marlo's Birth Adventure - Update Day 14

Week #3 - So The Plot Thickens

Friday we went to the hospital to sign Marlo's release form so she could be transferred to McMaster.  To our surprise she was being hooked up to an IV.  Turns our there still wasn't a bed available at McMaster.  Her doctor here decided to make the next move.  It could be a day or two until one became available and it would not be in the NICU, it would be in the pediatrics department.

Through out the night Marlo was not overly interested in eating and threw up twice.  The Doctor had decided to start treating Marlo for Necrotising Entrocolitis (NEC).  He said there was a 50/50 chance that this would be the course of action they took at McMaster.  He and his team of Doctors are not 100% sure this is what she has.  But, they are not sure that it is Milk colitis anymore as the bleeding has become more persistent as apposed to getting better.  The E-ray from Thursday had raised some questions amungst the team reviewing it.  They ex-rayed her again Friday morning and the same area in her bowel raised question.   Most babies that have NEC become much sicker quicker and have more traceable symtoms.  Marlo has not followed the regular path of a NEC baby, however if she doe have it they will be ahead of the curve and hopefully get her better quicker.

The treatment for NEC is 10 days long and rather intensive.

• stopping feedings
• nasogastric drainage (inserting a tube through the nasal passages down to the stomach to remove air and fluid from the stomach and intestine)
• intravenous (IV) fluids for fluid replacement and nutrition
• antibiotics for infection
• frequent examinations and X-rays of the abdomen

The Doctor did tell us that NEC could make a baby much sicker then Marlo was and if it did get to that point she would be transferred to the next level up NICU.  She would be moved to which ever location had a bed available, either London, Hamilton or Toronto.  But for not they would continue here in Kitchener.  Thank goodness for that. 

It felt like we were taken such a step backwards.  She would have all the wires and tubes as she did before.  The IV may not work for all ten days and she may need a central line.  she will need so many needles and testing everyday.  God I hope this works, how much more can a little body take.  Dave and I left the hospital Friday morning very shaken up and upset.   We also left not knowing much about NEC other then it sounded horrible and was much worse then straight up milk colitis. 

Now that we had spent a bit of time reading about the disease, we feel much less fearful and more optimistic overall.  This is going to be a long treatment but will hopefully yield positive results in the end.  Meaning we may even get to bring our baby home.  


If you are interested in reading more about it here is the Link - Necrotising Entrocolitis