We've had an interesting week so far. On Tuesday I took Griffin to the doctors for a weight check/1 week well child visit--the girls were at day care/school. At the visit the doctor noticed he was a bit orange (I'd noticed him getting more off-color for a day or two). I didn't think he looked too yellow/orange. So she drew some blood to test his bilirubin levels for jaundice. He was weighed and come in at a slight 6lbs 3oz. The blood test results showed that his levels were high so she wanted us back in to have another blood test done the next morning. With instructions to have him eat every two hours during the day and every three at night.
I was a bit annoyed at having to take Griffin in to the doctor's because now I would be making the outing with all three kids. I was also annoyed with the feeding instructions because Griffin wakes up only once during the night and I didn't want to rock that boat and have him think that waking up more was fun and continue doing it. So I fed him about every 2-3 hours during the day and whenever he woke up at night.
The next morning we all went to the doctor's office to have another blood test done. The results showed that his bilirubin levels were still kinda high. The nurse instructed us to continue the suggested feeding schedule and to come in again the next morning. He's been eating really well. I've been pumping to make sure I know how much he's really eating and to save my sanity (I am not a good nurser).This morning we pack it up once again and head to the doctor's for yet another blood test and weigh-in. My poor baby now has heels that look like pin cushions...it's very sad. He now weighs 6lbs 8oz- so that's a 5oz weight gain in two days so the breast milk bottle feedings are helping. The results show that his bilirubin levels are actually increasing...not good, so they sent the results to Cook's Children's Hospital. And informed me that the doctor wants us to come in AGAIN tomorrow for another blood test and weigh-in...grrrrr!
Cook's Children's recommended home tanning (OK, so it's really called phototherapy) to hopefully remedy his jaundice. They sent over a phototherapy bed with the depressing instructions that he is to remain in the bed with nothing but a diaper and the mask except for feedings and diaper changes. So basically I can't cuddle or hold my baby...very, very sad. The technician that dropped it off said that on average babies need 1-5 days of the phototherapy to take care of the jaundice. Hopefully, Griffin wont need the lights for too long because I can't stand seeing him all alone in the little bed. Right now Ryan is sitting over by him just looking at him because he can't do anything else for him. 
But I must say the mask is a cool look.
Comments