I received phonecall from O&G clinic stating that we have to bring her to the hospital for phototherapy immediately as her jaundice level was over the limit. (Max - 300, Hers - 345). At the High-dependency ward, the doctor told us that she would have to stay for at least 2 days. 1 full day on phototherapy and if the value drops, she would go off phototherapy but still has to stay 1 day for monitoring. So the earliest that she would be discharged was on Saturday.
(This time, mummy didn't cry. It was after all, only jaundice... Daddy, however, was rather sad and emotional.)
The nurse stripped her bare, put her into the cot and under the phototherapy light. She has grown so much that the cot now looks too small for her. As she was hungry, she started crying the whole nursery down! She was SOOOO Angry that she managed to pull herself out of the plastic Dome-shaped cover (used to cover over her whole body, with the top part coloured black to protect her eyes). She even managed to lift the cover. Both me and Alvin stared in amazement. She is one strong and fiesty baby! The nurse finally decided to feed her and we left the hospital with a peace of mind.
Over the next few days, I was her "Milk Express", while Alvin was her "Federal Express". He would send my expressed breast milk to the hospital regularly, while I waited for the previous batch of milk bottles to come back from the hospital so that I could express my milk into them.
And everyday, I would go over to the hospital in the mornings and evenings. So much for staying at home during confinement.
8th Aug 08 (Friday):
Her jaundice level has dropped but was still high, so the doctor ordered another whole day of phototherapy. The hopes of her being discharged on Saturday were dashed. Oh well, rather she be ok, then to be discharged just because we miss her.
With her not at home for only 1 day, everyone was already suffering from "post-natal" depression. The house was suddenly so quiet without her, but of course, the hospital was suddenly very noisy because of her (lol). She was, after all, the biggest baby in the HD ward.
9th Aug 08 (Saturday):
Early morning, we popped by to deliver her milk for the the day and to check on her condition. Her jaundice level was borderline (Max - 240, Her's - 240!). Had it dropped by just 1 point, she would be off phototherapy and there would be hopes of bringing her home on Sunday. But NO, it had to be on the dot. So, the doctor ordered for another day of full phototherapy. No chance of Isabelle going home on Sunday.
Evening, we gave up watching National Day Parade just to keep her company in the hospital (and of course to be her "DHL"). When we got there, to our surprise, she was off phototherapy! Yeah! High chance of bringing her home the next day if the Sunday morning's results are ideal.
10th Aug 08 (Sunday):
We set off for the hospital in high spirits. Her jaundice level has fallen to 225, which was a good sign, but we still had to wait for the doctors to give Green Light to bring her home. We fed her while waiting for the doctors to do their rounds. When the doctors did come, we had to "return" her to the HD ward. Outside, my ears grew bigger and bigger, trying to listen to what the doctors were saying... "Readings look ok"; "Should be ok to discharge". (For once, I'm proud of my god-given BIG ears...)
Not long later, the doctor came out and told us that her readings are fine and she can be discharged. But we have to bring her to the polyclinic to monitor her jaundice level tomorrow and also to go back for another appointment with the Paediatrician.
The discharge took SOOOOOOOO long to be processed that by the time we could leave, it was time for her feeding. So, Alvin had to feed her before we could go home. But it really didn't matter... Darling was going home again.
Nicely wrapped and ready to go home...
(She so BIG, cot so SMALL!)
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