I am thrilled to announce that Brody's bilirubin level was only 6.9 at his appointment yesterday. Since it was well below 11 we are able to be D-O-N-E with the bili blanket. I cannot wait for the Apria Healthcare representative to pick it up!
Last night Brody slept in his crib for the first time and I actually got to swaddle him. He slept so much better and so did I!
When I got home from the appointment I immediately changed him into a sweet little gown and left it on him until it was dirty. That was so fun to have a clothed little boy! I also held him a ton and both the girls held him today. I feel like we have our normal baby back and could not be more excited.
Thank you so much for all the prayers and calls. We feel very loved!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Friday, October 26, 2007
Brody's Circumcision
Brody was circumcised this morning and didn't cry during the whole procedure - the nurse told the doctor he was a really good baby - then he started wailing as they walked him down the hall to us because he was hungry! He is a little trooper.
His bilirubin level was 13 today so we do have to continue with the bili blanket. We're trying to decide if we want to go back on Monday or wait for his 2 week on Wednesday. We'd love to be done with the phototherapy all together but don't want to go prematurely, either. We'll see what happens.
Marsha Mays stayed with the girls while we went to the doctor. They played dress-up and watched a Christmas Dora video. They are loving all of the fun activities and visitors they've had during the last few weeks. They both want to hold Brody all the time, which is why I would love to be done with the bili blanket. It's all in God's hands, though, and ultimately this is not that big of a deal!
His bilirubin level was 13 today so we do have to continue with the bili blanket. We're trying to decide if we want to go back on Monday or wait for his 2 week on Wednesday. We'd love to be done with the phototherapy all together but don't want to go prematurely, either. We'll see what happens.
Marsha Mays stayed with the girls while we went to the doctor. They played dress-up and watched a Christmas Dora video. They are loving all of the fun activities and visitors they've had during the last few weeks. They both want to hold Brody all the time, which is why I would love to be done with the bili blanket. It's all in God's hands, though, and ultimately this is not that big of a deal!
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Bilirubin is Coming Down
My mom and I took Brody back to Dr. Chea today for another bilirubin check. It registered 17 on the Children's Medical Center machine (she it would probably be 16 on the GHS machine).
Dr. Chea also explained why babies have neonatal jaundice. When they are in the womb they need lots of red blood cells to pull oxygen from the placenta. Once they are born and start pulling oxygen on their own, the body starts to kill the red blood cells. These dead red blood cells are called bilirubin and they sometimes overload the liver, causing jaundice. The UV light helps the liver break down the bilirubin faster. That's why with low bilirubin levels, sunlight is enough, but with higher ones, the phototherapy is necessary.
Brody will be circumcised on Friday at 11:45 and afterwards they'll check his bilirubin levels again. We're hoping for an 11, so we can send that bili blanket back!
Dr. Chea also explained why babies have neonatal jaundice. When they are in the womb they need lots of red blood cells to pull oxygen from the placenta. Once they are born and start pulling oxygen on their own, the body starts to kill the red blood cells. These dead red blood cells are called bilirubin and they sometimes overload the liver, causing jaundice. The UV light helps the liver break down the bilirubin faster. That's why with low bilirubin levels, sunlight is enough, but with higher ones, the phototherapy is necessary.
Brody will be circumcised on Friday at 11:45 and afterwards they'll check his bilirubin levels again. We're hoping for an 11, so we can send that bili blanket back!
Monday, October 22, 2007
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!
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!
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!
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
Thursday, October 18, 2007
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.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
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!
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