Thank you, Jesus, for 17

Dr. Chea just called and the bilirubin level came down and registered a 17! I think God wanted to show off a little bit with this situation!

Dr. Chea said I could continue breastfeeding and using the bili blanket and she will check him again tomorrow. Thank you so much, Lord!

Can a woman forget her baby who nurses at her breast?
Can she withhold compassion from the child she has borne?
Even if mothers were to forget, I could never forget you!

Isaiah 49:15 NET Bible

5 Days Old

Brody is 5 days old today and we are praising God for him over and over. He is a cute little bundle and I just want to hold him all the time! His first few days of life have not been super easy, but the first two weeks with both the girls were hard, too, so I was prepared for it.

Brody's respiratory problem, TTN, resolved itself within 36 hours and I was allowed to try nursing on Thursday night. He did great several times in a row and his Respiratory Rate dropped down to 58 from the high 70's/80's so he was taken off the TTN protocol. Thank you so much for your prayers. God has been showing us how much He loves our little man, too!

Nursing has been a challenge since my milk came in. I'm having problems with overactive letdown again (had the same problem with Sydney). I am pumping, using warm compresses and trying to prep as best I can for him beforehand. Feedings are sometimes taking 2 hours and he's supposed to be eating every 2-1/2 hours so I'm a little sleepy, but Stephen has been so wonderful to change his diaper, get him undressed and ready to eat!

Our concern now is with his jaundice or bilirubin level. It was 10.3 when we were leaving the hospital and Saturday morning it was 17.3. The pediatrician sent home health to deliver a bili blanket that we've had him on during the day when he's not feeding. We were supposed to put him on it overnight, too, but the home health employee told us not to. I wish that hadn't happened, but it is what it is.

Today we had his level checked again and it registered 20. The machines at our pediatrician's office only go up to 20 so we had to go to the hospital lab and they drew his blood to test it on their bilirubin machines. So now we wait. If the levels are too high, we'll have to take him back to the hospital and admit him for more intensive photo therapy treatment. I think he'll end up getting put under a bili light if that happens.

Also, there is a chance I will have to give him some formula because typically it is easier to get the bilirubins down on a formula fed infant than a breastfed baby. That makes no sense to me, but it is what it is, also. I will do whatever is best for Brody, but the idea of not breastfeeding him does make me sad. I've been a little weepy through this whole process, anyway, so it's not a surprise I'd be sad about that, too. I was sad when I had to supplement with formula in the hospital because his blood sugar levels were low and I wasn't producing enough colostrum.

Anyway, we're just waiting to hear what the results are from the bilirubin test. I am choosing to trust God with all this because He is worthy of our trust, He's shown His faithfulness over and over again AND because He loves Brody more than we ever could. Please pray that in our weak moments we will turn to Him for strength. Thank you so much for loving us, too!

the bili blanket brody by day glow worm by night

Brody Garrett Fowler

Brody Garrett Fowler
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
5:48 p.m.
8 lbs 13 oz
21 inches

Greenville Memorial Hospital--Room 6417
(864) 455-7000

The Fowlers welcome visitors 9 a.m.-9 p.m. and should be discharged tomorrow. However, one item of prayer is that Brody's breathing goes down from 80 breaths per minute to 60 or less so that HE will be able to go home tomorrow as well--he most likely has something called TTN (I hope I got that right!), and it usually gets better within 24 hours of birth. This is nothing serious, just poses a possibility of needing to be at the hospital a little bit longer.

Almost Ready to Push

At about 5, Sara was more than 9 cm, but not quite to a 10 yet. When I just spoke with her, they were getting everything prepped to begin pushing sometime soon!

5-6 Centimeters

Right after publishing the previous post, I found out that Sara was measuring 5-6 centimeters dilated when she was checked at 3:40 p.m.

Hurry Up and Wait

The last time I talked to Sara was 2:30, and at that time she said she felt like "hurry up and wait" was the theme of today! Her contractions had slowed down quite a bit, so just before we talked they increased her pitocin; and they had not checked her again. I asked for an update the next time they did in fact check her, but I still haven't heard anything---so I guess we're still waiting!

Induction Update!

Sara did get to the hospital this morning shortly after 8:15 but was being "put off" for quite a while...I guess still no beds. She finally got into a labor and delivery room, Room 4, just before noon. Since then, they've been able to move along pretty quickly! She received pitocin at 12:15, her epidural a little before 1:00, and they broke her water at 1:20. She measured 3 cm at the time. I will try to keep updates short and sweet--keep checking back and keep on praying! Soon enough we'll all be able to meet Baby Boy Fowler!

(For those who don't know, updates are in 3rd person because Miranda is posting during labor and delivery, and until the Fowlers have computer access again!)