What did we get ourselfs in for?

Well, life as a parent is proving to be much more difficult than we originally thought. But then again, so is Courtney. We knew she was having some jaundice issues when we came home. We went for another test on Thursday morning, and her level was way up, so in came the photo therapy. A local company that delivers medical supplies brought us what they refer to as a double bank of lights. We have to keep little Courtney on a bed of lights with a panel on her chest just about 24 hours a day for now.

We went to the pediatrician this morning and then for another blood test. Her level is beginning to drop, but it’s still not nearly low enough for her to come off the lights. Her weight is down to 6 pounds. I know, it’s common for them to lose weight after birth, but now we also have to go back for a re-check of her weight next week. Since she is so small to begin with, they really don’t want her to lose any more.

We thought for a while there yesterday, also, that we were having some feeding issues with her as well, but I think we have them all figured out. Today seems to be a much better day than yesterday.

It’s extremely hard having her under the lights all the time. We can’t pick her up and hold her any time we want. She is allowed out only for feedings and diaper changes. Then right back under she goes. But, as the doctor said, the more time she spends there now, the less time she has to do it in the long run. So, we are hoping that we need to get another test on Sunday that will show low enough levels that we can take her off the lights.

She is doing amazingly well. I can’t imagine it’s easy for her either to lie there all day. We try to spend as much time with her in the room as possible. We sleep in there in shifts so that she knows that we are still around, since she can’t get up and move around the house with us. Normally, we wouldn’t be far away for long periods of time, so we try to be with her as much as possible.

Maggie has been extremely affected by this as well. She wouldn’t leave the nursery last night. She spent all night in there with her. Bristol usually is as well, however, I was able to coax him out to sleep with me in the bedroom for Hubby’s nursery shift. Maggie wouldn’t though. Whenever we are in the nursery, so is Maggie. She is the little protector I guess. She loves the little baby.

So, now we just wait. The doctor wants us to get another test tomorrow morning and if all is well, we might just have her off the lights by the end of the weekend! Here’s to hoping!

Time to go and hold her hand and take her temperature (we have to take her temp every 2 hours while she is on the lights).