Anyway, we were supposed to bring Nic home on Thursday, but it's now coming up to Saturday morning and we're still in the hospital. Nic's pediatrician looked in on her Thursday morning, and along with the residents who were making rounds with him, observed that she had a slightly yellow tinge on her. He said it was starvation jaundice, which is when her body is destroying the blood cells that she no longer needs, now that she's out of the womb. The result is bilirubin, which is giving her that slightly yellow tint. It's benign, nothing of consequence, but just to be on the safe side, she's now undergoing phototherapy to get the bilirubin out of her system. The bilirubin count at the moment is 12, and she needs to get it down to 10.
So us new parents have had an emotional few days, crying far more than we ever did together... but the rational side of me knows that she's going to be fine, and that we're just following the doctor's orders.
She's also had blood drawn more times in the last few days than I've had in the last three months. Newborn screening and the bilirubin testing. She has one more blood test (hopefully) to take (again for bilirubin testing) before she can go home.
I need a drink and a good laugh.
I'm hoping we can take her home tomorrow... it's enough going through sleepless nights figuring her out without having to go through anything more. Please say a prayer that the phototherapy works and that she'll be able to spend the weekend in her own bed.
On a side note, thanks, 'Day for the boob tools.
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