Looking back at our last post on the blog, before Naomi was born, I am astonished at how far we have come in less than a week. From not knowing whether we would have a baby at all after Jo's Caesarean, or what his or her condition might be once born we're now looking at a bright and sparky Naomi feeding, wriggling and crying just like any other newborn. Within hours Jo was able to feed her and, as you might imagine, Jo was not about to let anything like her own recovery from surgery get in the way of her being with Naomi as much as possible.
On the first night this involved getting porters to push Jo down to the neonatal unit in her bed or a wheelchair. Jo found it funny to be looking after a dependent baby whilst being so dependent herself. But after that first night, Jo was soon able to wander through the hospital corridors to the unit by herself. Jo's own progress was sufficient that she could have been discharged on Saturday, but she has been allowed to stay in the hospital in order to be able to be available to feed Naomi every 3-4 hours. Whilst, at first, she had to go between two floors for each feed, she has now been moved to her own nice little room just outside the neonatal unit which is much more accessible. Hopefully she can stay there until after Naomi's operation.
We are delighted with Naomi and how she is doing. She's very alert and responsive for a newborn baby. Whenever she is moved she has a good look around and follows all the noises. We've discovered that she likes being swaddled and looks very sweet when all wrapped up in a blanket. I remember trying to swaddle Reuben when he was very little and he was having none of it. Reuben and Miriam have both had the chance to see, cuddle and hold Naomi. They are not fazed by all the monitors and everything - to be honest, they don't know that this is not how it always is. We have managed a few other visitors although access is a bit restricted to this unit.
Whilst our experience so far has been beyond our wildest expectations and we are so happy and thankful for everything we have with Naomi now, there is a way to go. We cross each bridge as we come to it. The neurologists and neurosurgeons have been looking at Naomi's MRI scan, which she had done on Friday, and are planning for an operation probably on Thursday. We had expected that the operation would be to put a tube in to drain the fluid from her brain to her abdominal cavity which is, we gather, a pretty standard procedure. However, we discovered today that they might, instead, put a small hole into the membrane of her brain and allow the fluid to drain naturally. It appears to be a less intrusive operation with fewer potential after effects.
They haven't identified any other issues of concern and, at least from a technical point of view, it all looks pretty straightforward. The doctors have been talking about trying to get Naomi out of hospital fairly quickly after she has recovered from the operation. We have a couple of days of relative peace and quiet now and are not expecting any great changes - which is fine by us. Jo, Naomi and I had a lovely day today whilst Reuben and Miriam were with friends and we now have my parents with us for most of the week which always goes down well with the older ones.
Thank you to everyone who has sent us messages, prayed for us and has offered and given so much practical support over the last weeks. It has, and continues to, mean so much to us.
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