Before leaving home Lilly was confirmed as having Jaundice. This is way more common than I had previously understood. The liver takes a while to ramp up it's processing and as a result, for anywhere up to three weeks it is normal for the toxins the liver removes to store up in other places. Like the skin.
Lilly under the blue lamps in the hospital nursery. They they gave her socks for her hands to keep her from scratching her face. I call them her "sock puppets."
Little Lilly got a little yellow, but anyone who wants to call her chicken has gotta arm wrestle her personally, ya hear? 'Kay.
The first night we were home the Hospital sent us with a tanning bed in a suitcase. UV light speeds up the breakdown of the toxins. The Suitcase tanning bed had lights in the top and a little bassinet-O-plastic in the bottom. It also had a face mask for keeping her eyes covered.
Gramma Barlow and I took shifts keeping an eye on the little one all night, waking Paige when feeding time came around. It was a long night. Unfortunately, they decided the next morning her toxin level had not come down enough, and a second 24 hours was ordered.
By about 9 or 10 ish that night, it became apparent that Lilly would not sleep if she had to wear that mask. It became further apparent, that as long as she had to spend time under those lights, she fully intended to spend her time awake and exercising her lungs. She got very good.
Grandpa Barlow summed up our final decision when he said, "Swaddle her up, make her happy, have a good nights rest and forget about the lights." I think we all slept much better that night than the previous one.
Her bloodwork showed she had made some progress, but not enough. It turns out, there is a SECOND type of UV bed that does not involve face shields, odd enclosures, frustrated parents and Grands' and very vocal babies. (It's there in the manual, I swear.) Our doctors office had them come switch it out. Shame on whoever suggested the tanning bed in a box version to begin with.
Lilly is so much happier. I for one am happier as well.
As of yesterday morning, she no longer needs the UV lights. Her Billirueben levels are in acceptable range, and stayed there after a light-less night. She has had both her little feet used as pincushions. Three blood tests in each.
She is a much happier baby. She stays awake while feeding, and sleeps in between. Usually. Currently we are halfway between feedings and she is wide awake and exploring the room with her eyes.
This, I suppose, means all is normal.
5 comments:
I've never seen that second kind of "tanning bed"...that is SOOO much better!
I am so glad she is off the lights. They do their job well, but they are kind of a pain to deal with. Her second bed looks like the one we had for Samantha. Now you will get to find out what your baby is really like - the jaundice makes so much of a difference!
Wow don't you love technology, its too bad that they didn't send you home with the better option first:( I'm glad that everything is going better for you, when you are up to visitors we'll come and see you. Love ya tons!
It doesn't matter how common some things are, they are still scary, especially if you're a new parent. Glad she's doing better. We used to strip Brandon down to his diaper and park him in the sliding glass door during the day to keep the jaundice in check the first couple of weeks. Try to get some rest. Wishing you a belated Merry Christmas!
That is odd that they sent you home with the overhead box lights. Camille had Jaundice, and they sent us home with the second one they gave you. Jaundice in newborns is very common, and it is really easy to get rid of as long as you are keeping her on the lights. We have babies on lights in our nurseries, and babies that go home on lights all the time, so no worries. Glad to see she is off them now.
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