Since some of you may be wondering what's going on and why we are still at the hospital here's a brief summary of what we believe is happening. Fletcher Allen blog visitors feel free to correct us if we misunderstood anything!
Since Claire and I have different blood types I have passed on antibodies to her that kill her red blood cells and cause a build-up of something called bilirubin which can cause jaundice (although Claire doesn't appear to have jaundice). Phototherapy uses light waves to break down the bilirubin so it can pass through her liver - she is not strong enough to do this on her own. They are using an overhead lamp, as well as something called a biliblanket which she lays on. Her bili level is around 9 and it needs to be 7 or below so we are in a waiting game until her bilirubin is at a level safe enough to take her home. While this can be a very serious condition for infants, Claire's is mild but needs to be treated. While it is inconvenient to have to stay at the hospital we are all doing well and know we won't be here long!
Today was an interesting day at the hospital. The morning started out with Claire's phototherapy overhead light being taken away because another baby in the hospital needed it more. While this was disappointing to us because she needs the treatment in order to be well enough to go home she is healthy and strong enough that being without it for half of the day did not put her in any danger, especially because she still had a biliblanket. The hospital borrowed more lights from Plattsburgh so in the afternoon she was put back under the overhead light.
Stella and Daddy were at the hospital with us for most of the day today. Stella finally warmed up to her little sister and gave her sweet snuggles. It was just adorable and warmed our hearts!
Then, this evening, something almost magical happened. Unfortunately the baby next door was transferred to Burlington but that meant that a Fletcher Allen NICU team arrived to pick up the baby. Of all of the NICU staff two special people arrived right next door: The Nurse Practitioner Joe who I like to say we adopted since we weren't assigned one when we were there with the twins, and Lizzie B. - Stella's primary who became like our NICU mother when we were so far from home. Seeing these two brought back so many memories but was such a special treat. It seems hardly a coincidence to us!
So far there's been no change in Claire's bilirubin so here's hoping we'll start to see a downward trend tomorrow!
