One step back.

Shaughnessy had a bit of a setback this week. When I went in to see her on Monday I thought she looked a bit pale and seemed listless. They set me up with her to do Kangaroo Care and throughout the whole time I held her she kept having little spells where her breathing was too slow or stopped. I'd have to rub her back to remind her to take a breath whenever this happened. This was VERY unlike her, as was her paleness and general lack of energy.

Andrew had arrived while I was holding her and we were told by the nurses that it was possible that she could have an infection of some kind setting in. We were very upset to hear this, of course, since she'd been doing so well up to this point and we honestly aren't used to getting any bad news, just consistent reports of her good progress. So bad news is out of the ordinary, something that not all parents of preemies are lucky enough to experience.

They also mentioned that if it wasn't an infection it could be that she was tiring herself out from being off the CPAP altogether and had hit the wall. They decided to put her on low-flow air, run some bloodwork and see if an infection was the problem, but in the meantime pretty much sent us home to let her rest. It was getting late anyhow so we went, worried and concerned for our little girl.

Thankfully when I talked to her nurse the next day it was good news. There was no sign of any infection, and they'd put her back on the CPAP. Since going back on it she'd had no more breathing interruptions and was getting her colour and energy back. So; in the end even though Shaughnessy thinks she doesn't need to be on the CPAP, she obviously does and her stubbornness will not change that fact. Breathing entirely on her own is still a bit of an effort for her little lungs which is understandable, given that she's not even supposed to be using them yet!

This does mean she's staying in the level 3 NICU until she's breathing on her own but we're just so thankful that there's nothing wrong with her that we're OK with it! The CPAP is at most a bit uncomfortable at times. It doesn't have any adverse effects other than some frustration for her, so I'm grateful to see her with it on rather than her having to fight off an illness!