Day 5

Just phoned the NICU to check on the twins. Both are doing OK. Hannah's ductus arteriosus has responded to medication and started to close. This is a blood vessel shunt present in all newborns that essentially avoids wasting bloodflow to the lungs while the baby is not yet using them in the womb. After birth, this shunt usually closes down by itself and allows bloodflow to the now-active lungs. In preemies, the mechanism that causes the shunt to close often needs some help via a medication that stimulates the shunt to close. If that doesn't work, it's possible to surgically close it. Of course, this is usually done as a last resort.