Waiting (formerly Wishing) For The Wee Ones: My Date With the Needle

Monday, March 3, 2008

My Date With the Needle

So DH and I decided that I should do the injection myself last night. It took a few minutes and lots of deep breathing but I finally managed to get the needle in. I would have been totally fine with the whole thing if I didn't have to watch the needle going in. For some reason, that's what gets to me every time. Even thinking about it makes my stomach jump!

I went in to the RE's office this morning for blood work and you'd never have known I'd injected myself the night before -- I couldn't watch the nurse inserting the needle there either. So silly!

Since I'm well on my way to becoming a human pincushion, I decided to keep track of the number of times I get stuck this cycle and I'll post updates here periodically.

Needle count since 3/1: 4 (2 @ RE's offrice for bloodwork, 2 @ Bravelle shots at home)

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NICU Lingo

Since we've starting speaking a whole new language we like to call NICU-ese, here are some translations for some of the crazy new words we may be using here.

Apnea - A pause in breathing that lasts longer than 15 seconds.

Bilirubin - A breakdown of red blood cells. Too much bilirubin in the bloodstream causes jaundice, a yellow coloring of the skin.

CPAP - Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, which is the admisitration of humidified oxygen and air through small prongs that fit into the nose. This helps to keep the lungs slighty inflated in between breaths, making it easier to breathe.

Necrotizing Enterocolitis (aka NEC) - a gastrointestinal disease where infection or inflammation can cause damage to, or even the destruction of, the intestines.

NICU - Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Oralgastric Tube (aka O.G.) - A small plastic tube passed through the mouth into the stomach. Feedings and medication are given through this tube.

Parenteral Nutrition (aka TPN) - A method of feeding essential proteins, electrolytes, vitamins, fluids and sugar solution through an intravenous line.

Phototherapy - Treatment for jaundice that involves placing the unclothed baby under flourescent white or blue lights. Special eye patches are worn to protect the eyes from the light.

PICC Line - A specially placed intravenous catheter that is inserted under the skin, run through a peripheral vein and advanced through larger veins towards the heart. This line can be used for parenteral nutrition or to deliver medications.