As my doctor warned us, this entire experience is truly a roller
coaster. Yesterday, in the morning, McKenzie was still heavily
sedadated, but moving a little, grabbing our fingers, and trying to
suck. She had a lot of tubes, but was looking good. And for the
first time, her feet weren't purple!
I left for a doctor's appointment for me and when I came back, there were about 15 people in McKenzie's room and 5 or more milling outside. One of the doctor's explained that they were taking an x-ray and echocardiogram because McKenzie's oxygen saturation levels had dropped to around 40% and her blood pressure dropped quite a bit. It was extremely scary watching more people stream in the room and knowing that three nurses were working on her and then asking for more help. They attached her to a pace maker. Then, the chaplain came to offer us support. Logically, we know that chaplains aren't only available only for last rites anymore, but that was what went through both Dale and my head. McKenzie came through it all fine.
As we were leaving last night, her oxygen saturations dropped again and her blood pressure dropped again. Not as much as before, but enough to develop a pattern. Her pH level was off, and her blood was too acidic. Apparently, all babies have different pH levels they like. McKenzie likes her blood to be basic. So, now that we know, this little emergency should be past us.
We know many more of these incidents will occur since everything they are doing now is trying to find her happy balance point. (Not an easy thing since all babies are different, newborns aren't balanced yet, and McKenzie creates her own rules!) She is doing well now and hopefully, she will start to wake up again today and hold our hands once more.
Mel
I left for a doctor's appointment for me and when I came back, there were about 15 people in McKenzie's room and 5 or more milling outside. One of the doctor's explained that they were taking an x-ray and echocardiogram because McKenzie's oxygen saturation levels had dropped to around 40% and her blood pressure dropped quite a bit. It was extremely scary watching more people stream in the room and knowing that three nurses were working on her and then asking for more help. They attached her to a pace maker. Then, the chaplain came to offer us support. Logically, we know that chaplains aren't only available only for last rites anymore, but that was what went through both Dale and my head. McKenzie came through it all fine.
As we were leaving last night, her oxygen saturations dropped again and her blood pressure dropped again. Not as much as before, but enough to develop a pattern. Her pH level was off, and her blood was too acidic. Apparently, all babies have different pH levels they like. McKenzie likes her blood to be basic. So, now that we know, this little emergency should be past us.
We know many more of these incidents will occur since everything they are doing now is trying to find her happy balance point. (Not an easy thing since all babies are different, newborns aren't balanced yet, and McKenzie creates her own rules!) She is doing well now and hopefully, she will start to wake up again today and hold our hands once more.
Mel
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