Jaundice

Poor Miss Emily was home for not even two days and back to the hospital we went. The doctor was concerned with her jaundice and bilirubin levels. When we were released from the hospital on Thursday afternoon, she was at a medium risk. We had to take her to be tested Friday and Saturday morning. Since her levels kept creeping up each day and she was very near the border for high risk, the doctor thought it best to take her back to the hospital to be under the lights. The UV rays help reduce this faster. Here is a picture of her in her first tanning booth with her goggles (really blind folds).

Needless to say, this is not what Mommy and Daddy had planned. After all day Saturday and most of Sunday, they let us go home. Her jaundice (yellow coloring of the skin) has almost gone away but now we are concerned with her weight. When she was born, she weighed 7lbs 13 ounces and when we left the hospital she weighed 7lbs 7 ounces. Then on Monday at the doctor she still only weighed 7lbs. 8ounces. By that time, she should at least be back to her birth weight if not higher.

We have had to give her the bottle a little in between nursing to make sure she is feeding enough. Mommy's milk is definitely in and Emily is definitely nursing enough but somehow she is not gaining weight. It all does not add up. We went to the doctor again on Friday after Thanksgiving and Emily was up a little 7lbs. 11 ounces but still not enough. She does sleep a lot but I guess most babies do.

She is still just precious and her is a good picture awake.