Two Week Wellness Check

Amelia is officially 2 weeks old (even later now since I am behind in my blogging)! Hard to believe how time flies... Just the other day, Trip was telling me he was trying to remember what it was like NOT being a parent. Our transition home has been pretty smooth over all, except for some breastfeeding hiccups. We were discharged home on Saturday, 2/25, with a pediatrician appointment on Monday due to elevated Bilirubin levels. Sunday was especially tough since Amelia was extremely tired, and very clearly yellow. We knew we had to get fluids in her, and she was going from zonked asleep to screaming mad hungry too quickly to effectively breastfeed. At this point, I made the decision to pump and bottle feed her in order to get as much fluid into her system as possible. This was an incredibly difficult decision, but I firmly believe it helped us to avoid ever needing to use a photo-therapy blanket. At her appointment that Monday, Amelia weighed 7lbs even - which was her hospital discharge weight. Honestly, we were just glad that she hadn't dropped any more. After this appointment, my mom and I went back to the hospital for an outpatient visit with the on call Lactation Consultant.

I was nervous going into this appointment with the LC, because I did not have a great experience in the hospital with this particular lady. She did a brief check in, told me that the latch wasn't great, but didn't really provide feedback for how to help. My mom later said that her approach was very much in the assumption that I had almost zero knowledge of what I was doing, and she didn't even try to figure out what information about breastfeeding I did have. Retrospectively, this makes it even more interesting how little information she gave me, but oh well. So when I called and spoke with this same LC briefly on the phone Monday morning, I was less than pleased that her reaction was basically, "You shouldn't have given her a bottle. Now you have to pump every 2-3 hours to keep up your supply and make sure she's getting enough." Yes lady, I know that - I need your help returning to breastfeeding! Anyway, as I said, I was anxious about our actual out patient appointment. Thankfully things were much smoother than anticipated. First the LC identified that babies with elevated Bilirubin levels often have a lot of difficulty breastfeeding because they are so sleepy and difficult to rouse. She then was able to help us discuss different options to get Amelia back to nursing successfully and gave us some tips on how to keep her awake long enough to eat. Although we talked about options for supplemental feeding (using a cup and/or syringe), based on our pre/post feed weights I'm wasn't worried. It was clear that as long as little Amelia kept awake long enough to eat, she would be getting plenty of milk.

 Since her Bilirubin levels on Monday came back as 14+, we had another appointment on Wednesday, Leap Day, for another blood draw. I asked for another weight check, and she was now 7 lbs and 5 oz! Thankfully her Bilirubin levels also came back low enough that we continued to avoid any photo therapy, but still had to push fluids and get her in the sun (which has been hiding behind a lot of clouds recently)...

Thursday the 8th we went back for Amelia's two week wellness check. Little monkey now weighed 7lbs and 15 ounces! Although I had not been concerned about whether she was eating enough, this was great confirmation. Amelia did remarkably well given that her doctor's appointment was right during feeding time - plus she had two exams since there was a student nurse practitioner with her doctor. Everything continued to look great, though she is still a bit yellow. The doctor told me to watch it for another 7-10 days and call if it doesn't resolve. He recommended starting her on Poly Vi Sol vitamins with iron (yuck - who can get those down your kid's throat?).

Overall we continue to do really well. My recovery continues to be smooth, and I am more and more comfortable each day. Amelia seems remarkably aware of her hands, and seems to reach for toys on her activity mat with purpose. She is also starting to turn on to her side, and was observed scooting on her tummy this morning. My how the time flies!!

My mom has stayed with us since the day that Amelia was born, and this has been an immense help! She's taken over most of the food/household duties, and has provided some night time relief for us as well. It will be quite the adjustment next week when she flies to Boston, and Trip is at work during the day. My dad came to visit on Thursday the 8th, and will be flying back to New Mexico today - it was great having him able to come and visit Amelia!

We have other exciting family news to share as well; Amelia is a big cousin! We knew that she wouldn't stay the youngest cousin for very long with my sister in law, and Trip's sister both pregnant. It was a bit of a shock, though, when we got a call on Friday afternoon 2/24 saying that my brother's wife was being induced at 36 weeks. Erica was due March 22nd, but was determined to be suffering from cholestasis, and her doctor recommended an emergency induction due to elevated bile salt levels. Little Miranda Claire joined this world early in the morning of 2/25, officially making Amelia a big cousin! Thankfully Miranda and mom are doing well after a brief stay in the NICU, and all are back home together. It has been a bit confusing for my parents, and I'm sure each child has been called by the other's name at least once.