[bjc]

yesterday when dd and sil went to pediatrican for first time ( dgs was born at a hospital where their pediatrician is not on staff) they found out he was jaundice and dehydrated.... they said his count was 17 and at 20 they would need to send him to hospital but dd is having trouble nursing...baby just falls asleep and isnt interested so they said he needed fluids and to give him formula....she also got an electric pump and her sister inlaw showed her what to do...and it doesnt sound like her milk is in yet so they also gave him formula..they went back to dr this morning and he had gained weight which is good but they took another blood test and it was 20 so they had to go to emergency room of hospital and that is where they are now and they took blood again....dd thinks that they will have to put him in the lights but she is waiting to find out what is going on and i am just sitting in apt in ny waiting for my 84 and 88 year old inlaws to get here from a flight from florida....i wish i could help or do something... and of course i wish i knew more....none of my kids were jaundiced or had troubles with the nursing....so i guess i am just turning to you my friends at sg. i have never posted more than a lo or a question on the mb but thought maybe someone had some similiar experiences to let me know what is going on....i feel so much pain for the baby and the parents...my dd sounds better now on the phone but of course was crying before when she told me...sil is a strong guy and is holding it together for her...

[LisaL]

Jaundice is not a big deal if dealt with. My first DS was and they did lights and we had to put him by a window in direct sun light for awhile once we got home, but they did not keep him because of it. Breast feeding is not for everyone...and there is nothing wrong with not breast feeding so tell your DD not to fret over that. Hope all is well soon!!

[Vaughnde]

Both my girls had Jaundice but were under lights for 24 hours and they were fine. I am one of the few people who cannot breastfeed and its not for lack of trying. So I put them both on the bottle and they did fine. I got over it

[April Showers]

It is really hard to have your little one back in the hospital. A dear friend of mine had that with her 2nd, (he was in the hospital for his baby shower!) and with her 3rd, they let her bring portable lights home. It was soooo much easier on them that way. Hope the treatment goes well!

[dukebballfan]

I had the same situation except that my son was kept in the NICU for another reason at birth, but he too was jaundiced and it really was no big deal at all. I also tried my best to breast-feed him, but he just would not take to it. I don't know whether it was the fact that he was unable to eat period for the first week or so or just something that wasn't meant to be, but everything was fine in the end! I know how scary it is when your baby is in the hospital, but everything will work itself out. Sending warm wishes towards both yourself, the baby and his parents.

[Sherry Lynn]

Bobbie I'm so sorry to hear that your daughter and new grandson are having a rough time right now - I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers!

[KBT]

Well Bobbie, all 4 of my kids had jaundice, and my first was a tough nurser too It is so hard to have that double whammy as a new mom (or gramma ) If she really wants to nurse, then she can. I remember the first 4 weeks with my first little one were sooooo hard and my mom had never nursed so I was totally lost. But we worked it out and I am sure your dd will too!

As for the jaundice, the lights do wonders! I (fortunately or unfortunately) did not have to leave the hospital for a few days so was able to be with my little ones in the hospital as they went through their treatments. The at home lights are certainly an option, but even sunlight in a bright window makes a difference! Flushing their little system takes time unfortunately and really you just want to make sure it doesn't get worse... I have so many pictures of yellow babies It was almost hard to know what color they were supposed to be!

Thoughts and prayers for your dd and your newest little one!

[CRS]

Hang in there, Bobbi! Waiting and wondering is the hard part. It took awhile for my milk to come in with both of my babies and my first one wasn't interested in nursing much either. Then she did a total turn around and only wanted to nurse (and not take a bottle). That was hard when I had to go to work! Anyway, hang in there. They are doing the right things. I'll keep you all in my prayers!

[bjc]

thank you ladies...i dont know anything more so while i sit around and wait it is nice to hear from all of you and some of you had similiar experiences so this is encouraging...thanks ....

[bikeneday]

New moms and babies who just want to sleep are a tough combination. Things will get better. Hopefully they can bring him home with lights if that is what is needed. Lots of wishes that things turn around quickly. There is no failure if nursing just doesn't happen, but it is a tough mental thing when that is really what mommy wants to do. Sending hugs all around.

[mbc72]

Sending prayers for your new grandson and daughter. As others have said this is not an uncommon situation and I am sure the two of them will figure it out soon.

[tinkerbell11]

Hopefully the lights will do the trick and your sweet little grandbaby will be home with his new mom and dad soon! Thoughts and hugs your way!

[Cheri T]

Sending good thoughts their way. As mentioned above, it's not the end of the world if breastfeeding doesn't work out...that said, if she is bound and determined to do it, have her enlist the help of a lactation consultant, La Leche League, etc ASAP to help ensure that things work out:)

[SandiC.]

Bobbie, many, many babies have physiologic jaundice which responds well to light therapy. And some babies are slow to catch on to the nursing thing. All three of mine were jaundiced, the second one needed lights. nursing or battle feeding doesn't really matter all that much, but some pediatricians will argue. My DIL has a great electric pump so Julianna gets breast milk, but in a bottle. Not really sure why she decided to do it that way, but she does have to go back to work, so at least the baby is used to a bottle. I had to stop nursing DS #1 because I got a kidney infection, but it was hard when I went back to work with the other two because they didn't know how to take a bottle and didn't like it. I think consulting a lactation specialist is a great idea.

[scrapariadna]

Both my babies were jaundiced, but not that much.
I also had to wait couple of days until my milk came in and they had low blood sugar. The solution was pretty simple. I nursed and after they were done I gave them formula until they were satisfied. After 2-3 days they didn't need any formula. It's important to nurse - the milk comes in and there isn't such risk of engorgement (which occurs anyway, but isn't that bad). After those few days of trouble I nursed my both children for a year. Seeing a lactation consultant is a great idea too. Maybe there is one at the hospital? Good luck to your DD!

[Julie - scrapaholic]

All 3 kids that my girlfriend had were juandiced. 24hrs under lights and all was fine. I too was not able to Breast feed, so formula was the way to go for me. Hope all is well.

[bjc]

thank you all.... baby did not end up staying at the hospital.... the poor little guy and dd and sil were there all day .... of course i am sitting at home with my inlaws who just arrived from fla and i had to tell them.... we didnt know what was happening.... dd called about 8 pm that they were letting them take him home from the hospital and his blood count was ok now..... they never even had to put him under the lights. so all is going better now.... here is a nyc story for you....they had walked him to the hospital in the baby carriage.... it is 14 blocks.....but on the way home dd was so tired she took a cab and sil walked the baby home.....what a dad! and of course we didnt see them nor did my inlaws.... i got an email this morning all is well and they go back to dr this am and then plan on going over to introduce him to the great grandparents.... the other day dd got the name of some lactation coaches from the pediatrician and had called some i think but then yesterday they were at hospital all day so i dont know what has happened...she also has a breast pump and sister in law showed her how to use...as she was like sandi's dil and pumped but put in bottle.... dd emailed that he is eating so i felt best not to ask how cause the eating is the main important thing..... so thank you girls for being there when i was just alone and needed support......

[Sarah in VA]

Bobbie,

I'm glad things are working out for your new little family this morning! So much to learn and cope with - all of a sudden. I can imagine (make that remember) the bewilderment! I'm glad you can be in there for them. I know the great grandparents are going to be so happy to finally get to meet him.

Good luck to all of you. I'll keep you in my thoughts.

[Cheri T]

I'm so glad he didn't have to stay at the hospital and that things are going better!
Woo boy, 14 blocks to walk after just giving birth...yikes:) I think the cab home was a WONDERFUL idea!

[cyndisa]

I didn't see this until now, Bobbie; but I'm glad that it worked out all right. My first DS was jaundiced, too. When we took him for his first dr.'s visit, the nurses gasped at how orange he was. They said he looked like a pumpkin! (He had trouble with breastfeeding, too.) Into the hospital he went, and a couple of days later, we were released. It's a pretty common problem but not easy for parents to deal with! With every baby after my first, we kept them near a window in indirect sunlight as much as we could for the first several weeks after they were born. Thankfully, although all of them had slight jaundice, none of them had to be put in the hospital. Hugs for you, Bobbie; and be sure to give DGS lots of hugs from his SG aunties!

[KBT]

So glad its all working out. The first weeks are so hard! Hope they are getting some rest

[bikeneday]

Glad to hear he did not have to spend the night in the hospital. I love the taxi/walking part of the story. Keep us posted with updates, but thinking they could all be in the down hill slide now. Of course there is the no sleep issue, but we won't tell if you don't. Continued best wishes.

[StephRN]

I'm so glad you hear that all is well. Keep us posted. Can't wait to see some photos/LOs.