Day 4

Ashwin was started on feeds through his ng (nasogastric) tube - 1ml every 2 hrs, to be increased by 1ml every 12 hrs. He also had his first poo! This was exciting because it means his bowel works properly. We had a kangaroo cuddle (skin to skin) for an hour and after lunch he was moved from bay 4 to bay 2, bed number 15. He was out from under the UV lights and at his 4pm cares I changed his nappy for the first time. One of the head nurses syringed some of the milk I'd expressed into his mouth while he was sucking his dummy and he took 2mls so she suggested attempting to feed him to see how he went. This took us by surprise as we thought this step would be a long way off but he fed well on and off for 10 minutes with perfect attachment and oxygen saturation levels of 99-100 (often it's hard for them to feed as they have to coordinate sucking, swallowing and breathing at the same time and their saturation levels can drop). He was very content after feeding and alert, looking around and responding to our voices. Everyone keeps saying what a hungry boy he's going to be and apparently this is quite common for babies that were growth restricted. He then slept for and hour on my chest.