Super (Jaundice) Baby

We spent 5 full days in the hospital after baby Audrey was born. Normally, moms stay 1-2 days, or 3-4 for c-sections. We stayed 5 days with Clara, but 24 hours plus of those 5 day was taken up by labor, and the last day was taken up by discharge. So for Audrey, with her short labor, we technically stayed longer. Mommy was pretty unhappy about that. 

Basically, Audrey was a super (jaundice) baby. Somehow, I never really knew that jaundice was a semi-serious thing. Shane was a jaundice baby, as was my brother, and I've always thought of jaundice as something that wasn't a big deal, and definitely not something I needed to be worried about. Around mid-day Wednseday, Audrey had her initial screen for jaundice using a light sensor. The light screen yielded a 5.6, which at the time was high enough to order a blood test to double check on the accuracy of the bilirubin level. Later that day, her blood level was a 7.6, a high intermediate risk. While Audrey pooped a good three or four times after she was born, she stopped pooping around 7pm on Thursday [and didn't poop again until 2:30pm on Saturday!] But at the time, I still wasn't that concerned because no one told me I should be. Even with all the tests and the concern for lack of poop, none of the nurses stopped and said this is why jaundice is alarming. I ended up googling it and getting scared! Anyways, as more and more time passed and no poop came, the nurse suggested that we supplement with formula to help Audrey poop. We started supplementing with a SNS system while still nursing and pumping (wow was that tiring!) since my milk hadn't come in yet and even so, her levels climbed to 12.9, then 16.3 (with a light sensor) and finally 17.2. 

It was time, she crossed the threshold for needing phototherapy. The face Audrey is making below is how mommy felt about that, except maybe with more tears. 

We had only started supplementing in hopes of avoiding phototherapy! I really didn't want to have to watch her cry under the lights and not be able to hold or comfort her! Every three hours, I could hold her and nurse her for thirty minutes, but other than that, she was under the lights. But it was best for her, so on Saturday at 9:15am, Audrey became a super baby.

Fortunately, Audrey's personality as a baby seems to be pretty calm. As long as she is fed, burped, and dry, she is pretty content. As you can see below, she was basically a champion at being unswaddled under the lights. Even our nurse told us she had never seen a baby this content under the lights, that usually they screamed the whole time. What a blessing you are, little Audrey, thanks for not giving your mom a stress attack during those 36 hours.

Every once in a while, Audrey would startle with her moro reflex, or she'd need some comfort and assurance that yes, we were still there, but otherwise, the hours passed slowly but surely in a routine of sleep, nurse/supplement with SNS, pump, and sleep some more.

By Sunday morning, her levels had dropped to a 13, which was a low risk, and the doctor said we could finally go home. We kept her under the lights until the very last moments before discharge.

But all things considered, I know we are and were fortunate that the nurses and doctors monitored Audrey so well, gave us excellent advice on how to help her poop and get rid of the bilirubin, and how to keep her comfortable under the lights. I'm thankful it was not more serious and that it was caught when it was caught, and not something we had to return to the hospital for (or the NICU!). And once we got home, my milk came in and by the time we saw the pediatrician the next day, he said her jaundice was well on its way to be fully resolved! Yay!

Here's sweet Audrey ready to go home :). You are my super (jaundice) baby. Thanks for being so calm and easy under those lights -- mommy was and is so proud of you!