Not really a big surprise, since all of my children have been jaundiced after birth, but she had also dropped down to 5 pounds 13 ounces from her birth weight of 6 pounds 6.4 ounces. They said she couldn't lose any more weight. So, that day turned into an all day affair of going to the hospital, then Dr. Worrell's, then back to the hospital to have her blood drawn for a bilirubin check. We had to take her back the following 2 days as well for more tests, and finally her bilirubin started coming down. She also was able to gain back 4 ounces in 2 days as well. As far as feeding her goes, we had to start supplementing her with formula because of the jaundice. Since she hasn't been sucking correctly at the breast all along, my milk supply has suffered greatly, so we are now feeding her as follows: I pump my milk every 2 hours, and then we feed her the expressed breastmilk and/or formula from a nursing supplementer taped to a finger. She just refuses to latch onto the breast with the feeding tube, and the La Leche League book says that finger feeding encourages the same sucking motion as the breast, so I figure that is best for now. I am a little disappointed of course, that breastfeeding has not worked out exactly the way I had planned, but I am thankful that I am able to at least pump my milk and give it to her. Michelle has been invaluable through all of this, I don't know what I would have done without her help. There have been several times I have been reduced to tears over the breastfeeding not going right, but now I am just resigned to do the absolute best I can for her. God is good, and has blessed us with the most precious little miracle! She looks like Jon, I forgot to mention that, only she has very dainty features and is a very pretty little girl.
3 July 2002
1 Week 6 Days
We took Katie for her 2 week checkup today, and I still cannot believe this, but she has an ear infection already! Dr. Worrell said he never sees ear infections in babies this young. Oh man, I hope this doesn't mean she is going to have ear troubles like Alexa and Jacob! The scale there said she is 7 pounds 1 ounce, but I know that is high, because last week when St. Paul weighed her at 5 pounds 13 ounces, Dr. Worrell's scale said 6 pounds 4 ounces. So, I am guessing she's about 6 pounds 10 ounces now. Dr. Worrell also said she has a heart murmur, and he will be keeping an eye on that as well as her ears for a little while before deciding to send her to another doctor.
10 July 2002
2 Weeks 6 Days
Well, little Katie Bean is just growing like a weed! I measured her head last night - it was 13 1/4 " at birth, and last night measured 14 " exactly! She is really having a stuffy nose this morning, and is still on antibiotics for the ear infection. She goes back on the 17th for a follow up with Dr. Worrell. Terrie is having hand surgery on the 18th and will be off of work for 6 weeks, so we'll be going to visit her once she is back home. Today Katie and I have to go pick up Ari from her Deb camp at 12:30, sure will be glad to have her back home! |
