When I had my first baby, he got jaundice from getting a bruise on his head from forceps. I had to offer bottles after each feed to help wash the jaundice out. We had to do heel pricks everyday for 5 days before they called us in to do light therapy.
Doing light therapy was hard. Our first nurse wouldn’t let me breastfeed directly. I had to pump and then bottle feed. By this point my milk was in. I was only given enough pump parts and bottles for 1 pumping session. I had to hand wash items in a hospital sink. Surprisingly they don’t have anything to sterilize bottles or properly clean them.
Thankfully at a shift change the nurse finally let me hold my son and I was able to breastfeed. The relief I felt holding him after being told I wasn’t allowed to take him away from the light. Thankfully when he finished his light therapy, he had no issues latching again.
Those light therapy days are so hard on a mom’s heart! So glad a kind nurse finally got him back in your arms and that he had no trouble latching afterward.
The first nurses approach is interesting…short nursing periods seems like a benefits outweigh the risk situation. But it’s definitely not something learned in nursing school.
In the 90s, I had jaundice and was sent home with a light blanket, I haven’t seen that used much anymore!
Yes! They are incredibly strong! My son loved the heat from the light. It was the first time he slept laying down so good. Before he always wanted to be in our arms
It was pretty hard not being able to hold him and cuddle with him.
We were able to hold him up to day 5 when he got hospitalized for his jaundice. Once it gets to a certain point they have to do light therapy. I had to track everything. Weight diapers to see how much is coming out as his body.
Yes it was pretty weird that they had different rules they told me. I’m glad I was finally able to nurse him tho. I wish they were able to send us a blanket home. That definitely would have helped
I can relate , as I posted my story too . Like you are never at peace and Its like torture. But me i was given the opportunity to feed her myself or pump my milk and they did give me new bottles every Time I asked for it . They ask if i want to let them handle everything I Said no so every time she woke up they would call me and i will go they no matter the Time. I felt guilty three Times for not going but I was too tired . Glad it is all over
It’s amazing how strong our little babies are, even when those first days are so overwhelming
