Doctors, Doctors, Doctors!

Well our dearest Hannah was born at a birth weight of 8 lbs 8oz.  Well when we left the hospital she was down to 8 lbs which isn't really a big deal, newborns typically lose weight.  Well then we had her first check up.  Huddy came with us and brought his dinosaur troop:

After a bit longer she was down even more to 7 lb 11lb

Hudson loved examining her with Dr. Brickner

Since she was still losing weight, Dr. Brickner had me come back the next week as well.  I thought this was weird but we went.  She was down even more weight.  They ended up doing her second PKU test that day and she looked a bit jaundice but not too much so he said we could check her biliruben level.   Since she was already getting poked, I thought it was a good idea.  Dr. said he'd call with the results either way.   Well he did call and said she needed to get to the hospital asap because her levels were too high.  A 24 to be exact.  See the chart:

I was perplexed because she was latching and nursing but apparently not getting enough.  The doc diet asking me if she was nursing well and I said yes, but she wasn't:(.  So then, in tears, I frantically call my mom (who had just left my house), no answer.  I call Jared in tears telling him I need him home now.  Finally my mom calls back and is able to come watch Hudson.  She came and Hannah and I checked in at the Valley Hospital (btw, I was tearing up so bad at check in they couldn't understand me).  I know she wasn't seriously ill, well I didn't think so, but it was my worst fear to get her home and then have to go back:(.  So basically they needed to flush out her bili levels through supplementing and putting under the bili lights.  

The second night Hudson brought me some DQ blizzards and viewed his sister.  Again, he didn't miss us one bit!  He was so happy to play at Nana & Pop's!  Pops started a new song with the bones of his body and Nana got a truck and trailer with a four wheeler.  What more does a 3 year old need?

The hospital visit was only 3 days and 2 nights.  She had to keep getting her bili checked.  The first three hours it went down to a 21 or so.  Then in the next three hours down to a 19.  They agreed not to check her until the next day and she was down to an 11.7 the day we left.  Bottom line she ended up with breast feeding jaundice (there are 3 kinds) because she wasn't nursing well.  I had so hoped I would have this "kiddo" figured out with nursing.  Nope.  So now I ended up nursing, supplementing her, and pumping after every feeding.  With Hudson I had to nurse and then pump, now I'm supplementing with her as well.  Ugh, it was exhausting, still is!  The whole process took about an hour.  I felt defeated and bad b/c of poor Hudson.  I was ready to give up but my mom politely reminded me "You did it with Hudson" so I keep on trucking'.  

After 3 visits with lactation, we tried an SNS (feeding tube system) she still wasn't getting what she needed from me.  Needless to say I pump and she is bottle fed that.  Yes I pump over 8 times a day, ugh but I know its worth it.  My goal is 6 months but time will tell.