My Beloved Aaron

Aaron Ashfiq will be 2 months next week and he is growing well; to my relief. You see, ever since he was born, he has been in and out of hospital.

 

1^st Admission

He was only 2 weeks and was admitted for jaundice. His jaundice level increased instead of decreased and as he was a premature baby, he was referred to KKH for phototherapy. He stayed for 1 night but his jaundice only disappeared at 4 weeks. I had to bring him to polyclinic for his blood test every 2 days until end of June when his jaundice level is at satisfactory level.

 

2^nd Admission on 6^th June 2007, Wednesday

He was 3 weeks old. On 5^th June, I observed that he kept vomiting after each feed. It wasn’t regurgitation but a forceful vomiting (projectile vomiting); like a merlion. He didn’t cry but seeing him vomit at every feed made me worried. He simply cannot keep his food down. I have never encountered such problem with the rest of my boys. I thought he had stomach flu because a week before, hubby, Ashraf and Azirul had stomach flu and they were really sick. But Aaron didn’t have any diarrhea except for a slight fever.

 

The next day, we brought him to a pediatrician and as the doctor was afraid that he might have blockage in his stomach, he was referred to KKH. He was admitted and an ultrasound showed that he has stomach spasm (Pyloric Spasm) also known as Gastroesophogeal reflux [GERD]. Luckily it was only spasm and not Pyloric Stenosis (blockage in the stomach) where only surgery could help correct the Pyloric Stenosis. However, due to the excessive vomiting and to avoid malnutrition and other complications, he had to be put on IV drip. I was so sad that I cried when I heard him wailing his heart out when they poked his tiny hand. My poor baby even had to fast. Yes, fast for 8 hours a day, hoping that the spasm would stop. So no milk, nothing! Can you imagine a baby that age going through all that? Most babies I know would be wailing if we feed them 2-3 minutes late. But with Aaron, Thank God, he was so patient. Each time he woke up, he would make some noise to indicate that he wanted milk but I could only let him sucked on the pacifier instead. At times, he would spit it out and went back to sleep. He has lots of patience. This went on for 3 days. It was a trying period for me as well as for baby. Hubby couldn’t take leave to accompany me so it was only me and Aaron most of the time. And yes, all this was during my confinement period. Doctor told me that his vomiting and stomach spasm will last a few days, at most, a week. There was nothing else they could do to stop the spasm. After 5 days, he was discharged. I was advised to :-

• Play with, bathe, and/or change his diapers before feeding.
• Feed smaller amounts but feed more often.
• Feed slowly, holding baby upright.
• Burp baby often during the feedings.
• Handle baby gently after the feeding.
• Place baby on his side.
• Raise the head of the bed or propped his pillow up.

3^rd Admission on 20^th June 2007, Wednesday
He was 40 days old. A few days before his admission, Aaron had blocked nose and had difficulty sleeping. On 19^th June evening, I bought the infant nasal suction bulb and was using it to suck his mucus when he suddenly went stiff and was like gasping for breath. I quickly sucked his nose with my mouth, hoping to remove the mucus, if any but nothing came out. Hubby tried to do the same but baby was still stiff. At that panicky moment I simply forgot what to do. Somehow I recalled my mum telling me that should babies get choked, turn him and pat his back. I did just that a few times and he started breathing normally. We monitored him the whole night and were certain that he was his usual self.

On 20^th June 2007, I heard Aaron wheezing. Hubby was at work and had to fly that evening to India for his project. I took Aaron to KKH and upon hearing that Aaron had an episode of Apnea (stop breathing) he was immediately warded. Doctor asked me if he had turned blue when he stopped breathing but I told him it was hard to tell cause his lips are purplish (dark blue – which they said was due to pigmentation).  Aaron had to use a heart and lung monitor (apnea monitor). There were few times when his breathing was read at 45% (safest level 90% - 100%) and because of that, he was put on oxygen to support his breathing.

As he was still having stomach spasm, an ultrasound was conducted again to rule out Pyloric Stenosis and it was confirmed that the vomiting was due to pyloric spasm. Doctor recommended Enfalac AR milk (Anti Reflux) for him and his vomiting stopped.

Doctor told me that the apnea, especially in young infants and more so for premature babies, are often associated with medical conditions that require treatment (such as gastroesophogeal reflux [GERD], infections, or neurological disorders). Aaron was hospitalized for 7 days. I had to ask my mum to help my maid look after my boys at home. Hubby flew on the day Aaron was admitted and was back on 23^rd June 2007. So it was another depressing period for me. And due to all these stress, I no longer breastfeed Aaron cause it have all dried up…heheh. But one thing for sure, that is not a concern as long as Aaron Ashfiq is well again.

 

Oh yeah, did you see the day he was admitted? Both times were on Wednesday and he was born on Wednesday too! What a coincidence! After this no more please!!!!