Here's a timeline journal I kept:
4:15 p.m.
What an afternoon. This morning at 11:30 am we had an appointment with our new pediatrician for a bilirubin check.
Well, Dr. Vierra (our pediatrician) checked Alex over and said except for the jaundice he looked great. She sent us to the lab to have blood drawn for a bili check. After that, we went to RCWilley to see if they had any glider rockers (they didn’t). By this time it was 1:00 pm and it was time to feed Alex, plus Christie and Jordan would be coming home from school (Fridays are early out days) so we went home. While I was feeding Alex, the ped office called saying that Alex’s bilirubin level was 21.5. That is in the critical zone. Dr. Vierra had already made arrangements for us at Primary Children’s Medical Center for phototherapy in the Rapid Treatment Unit (RTU) and we needed to take him there ASAP. As soon as I finished feeding Alex and gathering some stuff, Alex and I went to PCMC. We got admitted and the nurses got Alex set up.
He had an IV for fluids and electrodes to monitor his vitals. There was a small bili light under him and then two big ones overhead. He was undressed to his diaper to allow maximum skin exposure. He wore little foam goggles to protect his eyes. The "crib" was more like a little fiberglass box. A baby blanket rolled up was wrapped around him to keep him stable.
I stayed with Alex while all this got set up (except for the IV—they did that last) then once he was settled, I went to the cafeteria across the hall to get something to eat—I hadn’t had lunch yet and I was STARVING. I’m so glad I didn’t have to be there for the IV. The nurse—Elaine—said she got it in on the first try. Don’t know if he cried or not but I’m glad I didn’t have to watch it.
6:15 p.m.
Attempted to feed Alex at 4:40. He nursed on one side for about 10 minutes then fell back asleep and I couldn’t get him to nurse on the other side. Elaine brought in a breast pump and I got about 4 oz of milk which will be used for him later on when he IS hungry. The info paper on jaundice/hyperbilirubinemia (too-high bilirubin) said that babies with hyperbilirubenemia often aren’t much hungry so I guess I will be pumping while we’re here and then the milk will be used to feed him when he does get hungry.
10:15 pm
I am pooped. I am hungry. I am ready to go to bed.
But first, a quick synopsis.
PCMC has a VP so about 6:30 I called Steven. I told him what was going on. He asked if I needed anything. He and the children wanted to see Alex so I asked him to bring me some more comfortable clothes as well as my medication. Then I went to move the van (I parked in outpatient parking which was on the other side of PCMC) and decided to go get something to eat. Ran down to a Subway and got a sub. Got back and the doctor was waiting for me with an interpreter. Steven showed up 2 minutes (I swear) later. Alex’s bili level as tested by the IMC lab was 21.5. The bili level PCMC just did (guess they did it while I was gone or something) was 22.8. Dr. said that if it went up any more Alex would have to be moved to the ICU. She didn’t really think it would go up—said it should go down. She also warned us that there was a risk of brain damage. She didn’t think it would be a big deal as brain damage typically happens at higher levels than Alex has but there have been cases of brain damage with lower levels. So she needed to tell us. There was a little play area where Christie and Jordan went to entertain themselves while Steven and I talked and I fed Alex. Then they left and I started to pump but didn’t get very far before Alex started fussing. He only nursed from the right breast so I attempted the left but he wasn’t sucking. Put him back in the crib and tried to set up captions to watch Numb3rs. Channel 2 wasn’t captioned for some reason. Found Harry Potter 1 on Disney so watched the last 30 minutes while pumping. Then got online to check email and catch up.
I’m going to eat, get ready for bed and hopefully will get a couple hours sleep before the nurse wakes me up again to feed and/or pump. See you in the morning.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
9:15 a.m.
I got a pretty good night’s sleep considering how bright the bili lights are and I was waking up every few hours to nurse Alex. He is eating pretty good. Usually 10 minutes on one side then maybe 5 minutes on the other. I’ve pumped milk a few times to help me feel comfortable and to keep the milk going.
The doctor on call came in last night to tell me that the blood test they did at 10 pm showed Alex’s bilirubin had gone from a high of 22.8 to 19.8. So the lights and fluids are doing their work. A phbletomist did another blood draw this morning so I am waiting to hear the results of that.
9:30 a.m.
The doctor (I’m starting to lose track of names) just came in to tell me that Alex’s bilirubin has dropped down to 16.4. So we are seeing some good progress. He thinks a few more hours and we’ll be able to go home. And he doesn’t think we’ll need to do phototherapy at home. Yay! I went through that twice with Christie and Jordan and while it’s not that much work or whatever, it is rather a pain to deal with.
12:00 pm
Since the last entry, I’ve fed Alex, pumped, Steven came to visit and I got cleaned up and changed. The nurse just told me we can go home soon so they’re calling an interpreter to come for the checkout instructions. Yay! I’m going to pack up and get stuff out to the car now.
8:45 pm
I got the discharge instructions and went home. Got home at about 2:30. It felt so good to be home! My brother Scott and his wife brought dinner (lasagna—yum!) so we just hung out for the afternoon, watching BYU football and talking with Christie and Jordan about what had been happening. I got a nap and a bath and Alex took his first bath in the big tub.
Primary Children’s Medical Center is a truly wonderful place. But I’m still glad this adventure is mostly over! I say mostly because I need to take Alex for a blood draw tomorrow and then follow up with the pediatrician on Monday but looks like the worst is behind us.
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