Arabella is now on a high-frequency ventilator (HFV). It's a type of mechanical ventilation but at four times the normal value (so now she receives well over 150 breaths per minute).
That's a lot of breaths.
It causes her upper-body to shake, but this type of ventilator is doing wonders for her and protecting her lungs. For example, it reduces ventilator-associated lung injury (such as acute respiratory distress syndrome). It may look bad, but it's actually really good!
Oh the things we learn in the NICU.
It seems like baby Belle will be on this 'shake-n-bake' ventilator until her artery closes. Her heart rate was dipping too frequently in the days leading up to this.
With that in mind, the doctors and nurses are going to start the second round of medication this afternoon. One dose every 24 hours while monitoring her very closely. As I mentioned before, the side effects of these meds can get very serious. But the sooner her PDA issue is resolved, the sooner she will get much better.
Please keep little Arabella in your prayers, especially in the next few days.
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