Love to Belong by Caroline Bell Foster

Author:Caroline Bell Foster
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sunshine Publications

Chapter Eighteen

Arno returned to the hospital in under two hours. Chillitara was still sleeping. With instructions to contact him when she woke, he went up to NICU to be with his son.

The doctor was there doing her checks, and much to his delight, said the baby was breathing on his own. Gone was the scary mask over his mouth and nose, replaced by a soft tube attached to his nostrils and taped to his cheek to hold it in place. She introduced herself as Dr Dupuis, a neonatologist.

“One tube down,” she advised with a smile, adjusting the feeding tube in the baby’s mouth. “Another to go.”

“Would you like to hold him?” she asked, and Arno swallowed. He’d never held a baby in his life, much less one as tiny as his son.

“I’ll help,” Nurse Aimee, who was still on shift, advised, picking up a folded blanket in the incubator and shaking it out. “Sit over there, and I’ll pass him over.”

Arno watched keenly as she swaddled the baby loosely in a blanket before picking him up. She settled him in the natural cradle Arno made and gently pressed the newborn into his chest.

“There,” she stood back, her hands going to her hips. “Nothing to it.”

Arno gazed down at his son and listened to the doctor and Nurse Aimee discuss the baby’s care, consulting the tablet held between them.

“When can his mother come and see him?” he thought to ask, wanting to reunite Chillitara with the baby as soon as possible.

“Once she has rested, and her doctor gives clearance, we can bring her upstairs,” Nurse Aimee answered. “Have you thought about using our Daisy Suite?”

“Daisy Suite? What’s that?” he asked, gently rocking his son. “We were supposed to leave for England today, but our baby boy had other ideas, and we aren’t prepared at all.” He admitted, feeling as though he had betrayed his beautiful country.

“Lucky for you,” Dr Dupuis said, handing Nurse Aimee the tablet to address him. “Our health care is much better than England,” she said proudly. “We have several suites for our special babies and their parents. You pay for the cost upfront and may be reimbursed.”

“I’ll take it.” Arno rushed. Money was not an issue.

“I’ll speak to her doctors and see if we can move her upstairs, hopefully later today.” Dr Dupuis said. “Do you know if the mother is planning to breastfeed?”

They hadn’t discussed it. “I don’t know.”

“Not to worry,” she went on. “Any questions?”

“So, he’s okay?” he asked, looking at his son. It seemed a lot less scrunched-up and more like a person.

“Yes,” she confirmed. “For thirty-two weeks and four days, he’s doing well. Those four days have helped with his development and made a tremendous difference in the neonatal care he requires.” She looked at the tablets Nurse Aimee held out for her. “His weight is a little low, and that’s normal for a preemie. He needs colostrum.”

“Colostrum?” Arno asked, ready to go to the pharmacy. “What is that?”

“It’s the first milk, clear

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