Yellow

One of the most terrifying things I faced as a new mum was Jaundice. For some reason ― perhaps because my babies were both born at 37 weeks and their livers had not fully developed ― they were checked out of hospital with low jaundice levels, but the levels went up a few days later, and they required phototherapy.

For Christian, we decided to rent a phototherapy bed from the hospital. We’d already come back to the comforts of home and really didn’t want to have to be admitted again. As it turns out, that might have been the wrong decision. The poor little guy cried almost the whole time his tiny body was in the phototherapy unit and stopped only when we took him out to feed him. As first time parents, we cried along with him and I recall the hours we spent by his bedside holding his hand and praying as he screamed his lungs out.

Christian under phototherapy

For Connor, we were told to give him a sun bath every morning and evening from the day he came home.

Morning, Sunshine!

But after a few days, we noticed his skin was still yellow, and so were the whites of his eyes. So, we weren't surprised when his bilirubin levels were high at his first paediatrician check up. This time though, we decided to check back into the hospital with me staying in a single ward with him. We sure didn't want Connor crying through the night, especially when Christian, who was still grappling with the idea of a new sibling, was trying to sleep.

However, it seems our fears were quite unfounded, as Connor slept like a dream in the hospital, only waking up when he needed to feed. As for me, that hospital stay was pretty much like breastfeeding boot camp - so my supply certainly went up by leaps and bounds!

Connor under phototherapy

Thankfully, after a couple of days in the light, both my babies got much better :)