News From the Nursery Lab II

I'm almost done with my training; in other words, all that's left is filling out the paperwork to completion and handing it in. But, with all the "trainers" involved, I've still got some folks to track down for signatures.

At any rate, the only thing I have left is to get a few more "micropreemies". I need 10 sticks - I think I have six now. But, truth of the matter is, micropreemies are few and far between. It's another one of those feast or famine things. Most micropreemies have either arterial or venous lines, so it's not often we actually get to do an actual heelstick.

But today I did do a stick on one. The babe was in Bay 1, which is where the most critical are watched. I wish there was some way I could show you a picture of this beautiful little Warrior Baby. She's totally captivated me.

The WB's in Bay 1 seldom are clothed in anything other than a diaper. Sometimes clothing is far too much stimulation to their skin. So other means are used to keep their body temperature stable. Many of the babies are cocooned into a fluffy material resembling lambs wool, but it's a substance that's far more light and airy. Their little feet are tucked up into a resemblance of fetal positioning, the fluffy is bundled around their feet and a hemostat is used to hold the fluffy in place.

Sometimes clear SaranWrap-like stuff is used to cover the bed to minimize the amount of air that needs to be warmed. (Don't worry, most of those babies are critically ill, with lungs so underdeveloped that they're on ventilators, so there's no danger of them suffocating.)

So, a non-line draw was needed for comparative testing and I went in to do the stick.
I peeled back the SaranWrap, unbundled her from the fluffy and watched as she languorously stretched her legs straight out. I could tell it felt wonderful to stretch and wiggle around a little bit.

And then she reached up and stretched out her arms. And, this little hand, whose palm was no bigger than a button on a man's dress shirt, reached for the sky. Her fingers wiggled and stretched and directed an unseen orchestra. And I was totally awed at the beauty of those little fingers. They were long and delicate, but there was amazing strength within them. The little fingernails were the final touch to remind me of how miraculous life is in all its forms.

In between each drop of blood I used to fill the tube, I looked at that tiny hand, and marveled. You don't know how badly I wanted to ask permission to take a picture of it, and how much I wish I could show it all to you. I hope my description can do even a tiny bit of justice to that beauty.

It didn't take long to complete my task. I retraced my steps in reverse order, bandaging the tiny foot, cleaning up used gauze and sharps, tucking her feet back in the fluffy (with regret, for she was really loving the stretching), and pulling the SaranWrap back over her bed.

She's gonna be a special one that I'll be watching. And, I may do what I can to keep you all updated on this special Warrior Baby as she progresses.

Edit: AD was kind enough to post a picture(click here) on his blog of a tiny little hand. I'm guessing it is his daughter's hand. The wedding band can give you an idea of just how small those little hands are. Thanks, AD, for sharing what I was not able to.