We have had quite an interesting week since Lucas was born last Thursday to say the least.
His first week of life is going to look very different than Ella's was, unfortunately.
When Lucas was just a few hours old, they found his bilirubin levels to be very, very high due to my Rh incompatibility {which I explained a little about here}, so they put him under the lights almost immediately. He looked so cute in his little "tanning bed."
Ella was into it too.
Over the next few days, we kept getting our hopes up that we would get to leave (I was technically discharged on Saturday, but the hospital let me stay there longer on "guest status," meaning I didn't get any food/room service, but I could sleep in the bed and be with my baby), only to find out Lucas's bilirubin levels kept going up and up...and up, and it would be at least one more day there.
So, we tried not to go crazy!
We had visitors....
...Ella got a "big sister" hospital bracelet...
...we had photo shoots (when Lucas wasn't under his lights--he could come out for half an hour every 3 hours to eat...and take pictures for Mommy!)...
{oops, totally just took this today, at a week old! close enough, right?!}
...and Lucas got to bond with his dad (aka TWIN)...
...and his big sister, who is totally convinced that he lives at the hospital at this point and is never coming home.
She is already such a good helper!
Ella also got very educated in the world of hospitals. She loved playing with the gloves...
...and the "murse"'s stethoscope.
And of course, she still thinks she is an only child. She was trying to climb into Lucas's boppy pillow, saying "Wahhh! I'm the baby!" Oh geez.
On Monday night/Tuesday morning, Lucas's bilirubin levels FINALLY went down...low enough that we could go home! I was so excited!!!!! We had been in the hospital for SIX days at that point and I was ready to get the hell out of there!
Before we could leave though, the doctors wanted to see how Lucas would react to being off the lights. They put him on this biliblanket instead, which is what we were going to have him on at our house, had we brought him home that day.
Unfortunately, his levels skyrocketed Tuesday night, there was no way the doctors would let him go home. Our sweet, sweet pediatrician sat me down and told me I needed to go home and be with Ella. Trav had been telling me this since Sunday night, but I never listen to him ;) But since our pediatrician said it needed to happen (not to mention the fact that I had not left the hospital since the previous Wednesday and desperately wanted to shower in my own shower and sleep in my own bed...), I left. I left my poor baby in the hospital. It was the hardest thing I think I have ever done in my entire life. I cried and cried and cried and cried. It was so SO awful, and I hope that none of you ever have to experience something like that.
{Our room for 6 days! If I never see it again, it will be too soon!}
I went home and pumped and cried, and cried and pumped. The next morning (this was yesterday now), I took all of the milk I had pumped up to the hospital, and I also got to visit and nurse Lucas while I was there.
But while I was there, we found out that Lucas's hemoglobin and hematocrit had dropped massively, causing him to be anemic and needing a blood transfusion. They didn't do these types of things in the regular newborn unit, so he was transferred to the NICU. All of this totally freaked me out, and I spent most of the day balling my eyes out (again). Postpartum hormones certainly didn't help this situation either!
I went to see Lucas in the NICU for the first time yesterday as he was getting his transfusion. I walked in and totally lost. it.
I hope, again, this is something you never have to experience. If you've ever had a baby in the NICU, I have a special place in my heart for you now. It is so scary to see such a little guy hooked up to all of these machines.
However, Lucas didn't seem to mind, and even gave me a smile when we went to see him last night!
He is definitely handling all of this like a trooper. He is eating great and is a very chill baby. He doesn't even flinch when they prick his heel (which they do twice a day to check his bilirubin levels) and he loves his paci.
The silver lining is that this whole anemia/jaundice thing is not a lifelong problem. Red blood cells reproduce every 60 days, and that's where this whole issue stems from: my antibodies attacked his red blood cells, which is why he's having all of these problems right now. But, in 60 days (or hopefully sooner!) this will all be behind us because he will have all new red blood cells. And you will never know that he went through all of this!
We don't know how long Lucas will be in the hospital, but are hopeful that it will be only a week or 2 longer. We are so grateful to everyone who has reached out to help our family and pray for us...it means more than you know!
In the meantime, I'll be balancing life between the hospital and life with my favorite 2 year old (who still thinks she is an only child)!
Mindy, I'm so so sorry he's still in the hospital and now the NICU. There's truly nothing more scary than having a sick child. Praying for you all and I'm so glad to hear there is a definitive end in sight for these medical issues.
ReplyDeleteOh girl, what a week y'all have had! I hope that he gets to come home sooner rather than later and I can't wait to hear about when Ella finally realizes that he doesn't just live at the hospital :)
ReplyDeleteAh Mindy!! I'm so sorry and cannot imagine!!! We will be thinking of you guys! Xo
ReplyDeleteFirst, he is just adorable! Such a handsome boy already!
ReplyDeleteSecondly, I cannot even imagine the week you have had. I have cried all week just leaving my baby in her own home to go to work. I cannot even fathom having to leave her in the hospital. I am sure he is well taken care of, though, and hopefully this will be straightened out soon. Thinking of you and if there is anything you need, always happy to help!
Oh my gosh Mindy!!! First of all...congratulations!!! He is perfect!!! Im so sorry you are going through all of this, i cant even imagine how tough it has been. Just know we are thinking of you guys and we cant wait to meet him in August!!!
ReplyDeleteso so sorry Mindy! Thinking about you all! I can't imagine how hard that is but he won't remember and will be home soon! Stay strong Mama!!!! xoxo
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine all you've had to endure! I know I'm reading these out of order, I'm so glad you got to take your baby boy home! You are an amazing mama!
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