…Continued from Part 4 of my birth story
We spent about 20 hours in the hospital after the birth, and we had a great experience, thanks to our wonderful healthcare workers. My epidural must have been stronger this time because it took several hours for the feeling in my legs to return. It also took longer for all my various pains to go away, compared to my first birth. Nursing cramps were intense enough that I needed Advil and Tylenol for a couple weeks. I also experienced lower back pain that lasted almost as long. That was a new symptom that I didn’t have last time.
The most surprising post-partum symptom was the chills. The first ones came on towards the end of our hospital stay. While standing up for a few minutes, I suddenly felt freezing, started shivering like crazy, and had to wrap up in a thick layer of blankets to make the chills go away. I was concerned, but the nurse assured us that it was related to hormone swings, and she said it was harmless as long as I didn’t have a fever. The second spell happened a few days later, while we were at home.
When the little guy was three or four days old, I became worried about the worsening orange tint to his skin. Little Buddy also struggled with jaundice and had overnight blue light therapy in the hospital at two days old.
Our doctor checked the baby’s bilirubin levels, and they were high but not dangerously high. But at five days old, they had increased. He called us at dinnertime and directed us to rush to the NICU for direct admission. He had spoken to the neonatologist and had arranged everything.
Newborn jaundice is usually harmless, but if the levels get high enough, there is a chance of brain damage and sepsis, so standard of care is to do blue light therapy before the levels become too high. In rare cases, high bilirubin levels can be caused by underlying conditions, so extensive blood work must always be drawn. Still, the fact that we were told to drop everything and go, and the fact that the doctor greeted us the moment we we walked through the NICU doors, was concerning.
The nurses and doctor were all so kind, not to mention extremely understanding of our emotions. While it was difficult being in the NICU, it was a surprisingly calming atmosphere. We were given a room down the hall, and one of the nurses encouraged us to go get settled while they inserted the IVs. The room was a bit outdated, but it was very comfortable, complete with a TV, microwave, fridge, and queen-sized bed.
When we returned a short while later, we were shown how to “gown-up” and scrub our hands with medical-grade soap and sponges. We passed a few fully enclosed incubators where tiny, premature babies slept. The nurse told us that they had about 45 babies , and while they didn’t have any one-pounders on that day, there were some two-pounders. My heart went out to those parents!
When we entered our baby’s room, he was sleeping peacefully, sprawled out under five blue lights. The neonatologist informed us that he had the maximum “dosage” going, in order to bring the bilirubin levels down quickly. It was already 8pm, and the kitchen was closed, so Mr. Handsome ran out to grab food. My favorite Italian restaurant just happened to be a short distance away, so we had a good meal. I was so starving that I inhaled my chicken fettuccine Alfredo in under four minutes.
Blood work had been drawn and send in for processing, so we sat back and waited for the results.
I’ve been following along on this story. I am so relieved to hear you had good accommodations while you were in the NICU. Unfortunately during our 10 day NICU stay in Canada, all we had was one reclining chair next to the incubator with a curtain – and that was considered good.
Hopeful for a good outcome for your little one!
Thank you, Elizabeth! 10 days is so rough! Were you allowed to sleep beside the baby? We had recliners there but sadly weren’t allowed to sleep. But I’ve heard that’s a common rule. If you doze off, you have to leave. The sleeping rooms were first come first served, and I think if we had been there longer they would have sent his home.
Yes thankfully we were allowed to sleep. That curtained area was ours for the duration of our stay. I could sleep and stay 24/7 if I wanted and did for several days, but postpartum with another child at home your heart certainly gets pulled many directions, and the lights and sounds and hustle and constant bustle is tiring.
Looking forward to reading the final part.
I am very thankful that all of your interactions in the hospital were positive and the needs of you and your baby were met. In years past, I had a friend who was a neonatal nurse practitioner and I also babysat for the children of a neonatologist. So, I was quite happy when one of my relatives became a NICU nurse a few years ago. These medical professionals take care of the sickest and most fragile among us.
The room was a bit outdated……..it’s always funny to see how Christians reflect on their hospital stays😂.
A bit of an odd comment. I’m curious to know what religion has to do with it?
Oh come…..surely the care of your child is the only concern……to even remark upon looks is, well, IFB for sure.
Yes, the care of my son is the only concern. I think you’re trying to find hidden meaning in a comment that was simply meant as a description. Also, I’m not familiar with what IFB stands for?
You are an Independent Fundamentalist Baptist, or IFB, just like the Duggar and Bates families, you know, the ones you blog about?
I am not “independent fundamental Baptist.” My background is not Baptist at all, although I have attended a Baptist church in the past (but not an independent fundamental one). Our current church is non-denominational and is made up of people from all denominations.
You should do a post explaining your church.
Ellie, I am so sorry you have to deal with comments like this.
EMS, what difference does Ellie’s religion make? She is explaining her and her family’s recent experience with the NICU. She is not discussing religious theory or doctrine. She’s not even talking about something that happened at her church. People of all faiths, including atheists, can have children whose lives begin with a stay in the NICU. Religion has nothing to do with it.
Interesting you seem to “know” so much about these families. Hopefully instead of following people you find so offensive, you can find the peace and joy that a personal relationship with Jesus Christ brings.
NICU nurses are wonderful! I remember having those awful chills in the hospital after each of my babies were born. I just couldn’t get warm for the life of me!
My first baby was very jaundiced and spent two weeks in the nicu. It was so hard. I kept looking at my little man and saying: “I promise that we have a lovely home once we’re allowed out of here”. I think it had a really big impact on my relationship with my son early on (we’re all caught up now!!!) We we’re told that one cause of super high bilirubin can be cystic fibrosis. My mum (an older generation) said that babies with CF have salty skin (a fact the paediatrician later confirmed!) and she kept licking him and saying: “I’m not worried! He doesn’t taste salty”.
Thank goodness for modern medicine, eh?
That sounds so hard! Yes, thank goodness for modern medicine.
Back in the day they kept your jaundiced baby at the hospital, sent you home, and you went back to get him later when things were better. Even an “outdated” room would have been an improvement.
Glad everything is getting better. God Bless.
Joan,Marion and Marilyn
My son (now age 31) was also jaundiced after birth. Luckily, it was very slight. We were told to place his crib by a sunny window at home and allow him to sleep there.
Our first daughter was very jaundiced. We stayed in the hospital for 9 days. I am thankful you and baby are home and well Ellie. The dr sounds very professional and caring.
Another well written blog post. Not easy when it is about your own newborn.
My third had jaundice. We were put on a regular children’s floor for care. He was in an incubator and under the bili lamps. We could stand near him but not touch him. We were there for nearly 2 weeks. Because it was a regular room, we didn’t have to leave and could take turns standing near the baby and talking to him. It was a hard recovery from my C-section, but I’m grateful he’s okay now, going on 9 years old!
Sooooo, now you’re non- denominational? Then why do you admire IFB faith so much? You keep contradicting yourself so I keep asking……
I’ve always been more non-denominational. 🙂 Whenever we move and need to find a new church, we look look specifically at a church’s belief statement, whether or not they are of a specific denomination. Our current church is pretty modern, with more modern worship music, although both Mr. H and I do love a good hymn, so we are not particular when it comes to music. We just want to be able to worship. Our church isn’t associated with a specific denomination–we are a stand-alone church. Our pastor preaches the Bible, and our doors are open to anyone who wishes to attend.
…LGBTQ+ need not attend though.
That’s not true at all. Anyone is welcome to attend, and it makes me sad that for some reason you think they wouldn’t be.
Ellie is a very open person, and she would never be mean about anyone!!!!!!!!!
Ellie I know what U can call Little Buddie’s bro, Little Pal, lol!!!! I am happy U 2 are OK, WOW, having baby is scary stuff!!!!! That is why I am sort of happy not to be able to have any, lol!!!!!
I have been curious if your new baby is going to have a “handle” like Little Buddy. Thanks for sharing your story and continued prayers for health.
Hi Tracey. We really need to decide on one. 🙂
My first child was born at 32 weeks and she was in the NICU for 21 days. I was there every day, but had to leave at night. I cried each night.
All of my kids had jaundice. My 7th was born last year. He got sent back to the hospital at a few days old because his levels were so high. There were no rooms in the children’s hospital. So, we had to go to the ER. Because of covid, we had to speak to the head nurse about my husband being my support person. Only one person was allowed with a patient. I had ppd, and everything was just too much. It worked out. My son spent a day in the children’s hospital, not the NICU. I was able to hold him and feed him. But it’s so hard not being able to hold him every time he cried. Before we went to the hospital, my son had to go to the lab every day and get his heel pricked. It was rough. We’d go outside and get as much sunshine as possible. We couldn’t do a billi blanket because no pharmacies had them.
Jaundice is just awful. I’m glad your son is doing better.
That sounds like our experience almost exactly. It was frustrating that we weren’t able to find a home healthcare solution. Apparently they exist in other states, but our doctor couldn’t find on in Nashville. Has anyone ever given you any suggestions of the possible causes of the jaundice? I’m hoping my future babies won’t have it, but having two in a row makes me think it will likely happen again. There has to be a reason, but I haven’t been able to figure anything out based on my limited research. 🙁
I originally thought that it had to do with my babies being born before a certain week in pregnancy, but that’s not true. My last was born past 39 weeks and his jaundice was the worst. My sister’s children also have jaundice bad. She has 12 kids. So, I wish I knew the answer to that question. Out of 7, only one was hospitalized from it, and one had a billi blanket at home. But the rest did have to go to the lab every day to get their heel pricked.
I wonder if having a high number as a baby affects their liver in any way when they are older?
If you ever find out, please let me know.
That’s interesting that your sister’s children had it, too. I wonder if it’s genetic.
I will definitely let you know if I find out anything!