Cooper is working very hard to grow, breathe, maintain his temperature, and digest his food. For the past two days while he hasn't had any assistance with maintaining his temperature, he hasn't been his usual alert self. He has pretty much slept through events he had normally been awake and alert for, like his cares and being held. Cooper has also been having more difficulty breathing today -- he is still on oxygen, and even with the added support of oxygen today he was consistently dropping his oxygen saturation levels. It is very difficult to watch your tiny baby fight so hard to breathe. This evening he was doing a bit better, so hopefully he continues to adjust to the crib.
Despite his body working so hard, Cooper grew today! He is now 2030 grams, or roughly 4 and a half pounds! He has almost doubled his birth weight. The week after Cooper was born the baby across from him was being weighed, and her weight was in the 2000 gram range. I remember thinking Cooper would never weigh 2000 grams... (his birth weight was 1040) but the day has come. He really is growing. :)
For the last two days we have been working with a developmental therapist to try breastfeeding, but Cooper has been much sleepier than in previous days and not showing as much interest as he was last week. The therapist has assured me that this is very normal for his gestational age, and we'll keep trying. Despite our wishes or plan, Cooper dictates everything on his own timeline! He is amazing, and nothing brings me greater joy than being his mother. My entrance into motherhood was far from what I had ever pictured, but the lessons I've learned over the last 8 weeks have refined me and taught me so much. It is the greatest privilege to be the mom of such a perfect little boy.
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