NICU - Day 5

Date: November 27th

Happy Thanksgiving Eve!

I realize that I am writing this after midnight, but that is only because Maddie and I were so busy all day. When we arrived at the hospital, Maddie was back under her tanning lights. Her bilirubin level was a 7.2 at labs this morning and the cut-off for her age and weight was 7, so she needed some more sunbathing. Several times today, I found that she had moved her mask to one side or the other so she could peek out and twice she had completely removed it from her eyelids.

Hanging out with one leg up on the other.

This morning Mom and I were present for rounds. They decreased her labs to once a day, which is great news because being poked in the heel has to suck. They also increased her milk to 5 mLs every 3 hours.

I asked one of the doctors about how long it usually is before a baby this young goes poop and he said 3-4 days. Previously a nurse had said it wasn't unusual for a baby to go 5-7 days after birth before their first poopy diaper. I pointed out that she is five days old today and the doctor ordered a suppository for Maddie. She didn't complain when they gave it to her and soon after she started farting. Who would have thought newborn baby farts could be so cute? The suppository worked and I allowed Mom the honor of changing the first poopy diaper. Maddie was so excited to have her diaper changed that she just kept on pooping. The diaper change took quite awhile before she slowed down. She had another poopy diaper later but I'm pretty sure it was just residual poop that we didn't wait for. Her tummy looks better and is softer now that she could get all that over with.

Grandma showed us how diaper changes are done!

Also, this should lower her bilirubin level for tomorrow labs and she should be done with tanning for awhile again.

Excuse me, but can we turn off these
spotlights? I'm trying to sleep.

We had some visitors today. The social worker stopped by to talk to us and the lactation lady brought a pump for me to use when I'm not at the hospital or Ronald McDonald House while Maddie is in the NICU. Sarah stopped by and let me borrow a phone charger (much needed!). Also, Sheila, who is in charge of Cherished Portraits came by. They take pictures of babies in the hospital who are stillborn or have a serious illness. They recently started taking pictures of babies who are long-term NICU babies and they wanted to know if I want Maddie's pictures taken next week. A parent from Renae's school will be taking them on Tuesday and I am so excited! Also, she gave me their pamphlet, which features a picture of my brother Matt, his wife Jill and their two oldest children on the front. It brings back memories of those wonderful days that we had with Grace here at the U of I. Now I have to prepare Maddie for the pictures. What do you say to a 29 1/2 weeker to make them smile nice for pictures? I don't think the tricks I use for Kate ("Be sassy") and Cael ("I'll give you candy") will work with Madelyn. All ideas for getting her to participate in her photo shoot will be considered (although some may be quickly discarded).

Maddie had two spells again today and one fake-out. With the fake-out, I was pumping and saw her heart rate numbers slowly decreasing and she started flailing her arms and legs. The alarm went off and I was kind of trapped in my chair. One of the nurses came in and informed me that Maddie had pulled on one of her cords, causing a tube to disconnect. The first real spell she had lasted 12-15 seconds and the nurses and I had to rub her down to get her to raise her heart rate. The second spell happened while I was at Target trying to print the picture of her and I from her birth day. I didn't ask for details on that one because the first one was still causing me some anxiety. These spells are completely normal for a baby of her age, but still throw me for an emotional loop.

Dan got to take Maddie's temperature for the first time tonight. He left the diaper changing to me. In honor of Thanksgiving tomorrow, Maddie did her best Home Alone face for me tonight.

"AAAAAAHHHHH!"