Jonathan's 2 1/2 weeks old already! Our first week with him was surprisingly easy. He even went to church on Sunday and MOPS on Tuesday. Then Wednesday hit (day 8), the day of his circumcision and when we learned his bilirubin levels were spiking out of control. The tech told me, on the phone, that they were 15.5 on Monday and 20 on Wednesday. Turns out they were actually 21 on Wednesday. A hospitalization-worthy number. So I'm grateful our pediatrician wasn't overly cautious and offered the biliblanket first. Thursday, the doctor sent us to the local children's hospital to have blood drawn so she could get 1 hour results. By the way, the nurses in the children's area are AMAZING!!! They got blood from a one week old's hand and he barely noticed!! Anyways, Jonathan's bilirubin was down to 18.6 on Thursday, but his thyroid was over 15 (under 2 is normal) and his hemoglobin was elevated too. Our doctor and nurse practitioner were stumped. She was convinced that the lab messed up Thursday's tests since Jonathan's newborn screening came back normal. Our midwife agreed. But just to be sure, she sent us back on Friday for more blood work.
For some reason the nurses in the ER couldn't do Jonathan's bloodwork on Friday like they had on Thursday. They sent us to the lab in the basement instead. And the lab technician was terrible. She insisted on heel sticks and had to do 4 to get enough blood. Jonathan screamed for almost a half hour and I was on the verge of being furious. In an hour I would be furious. Because, as we pulled in our driveway, we got a call that the pediatrician's assistant that the hospital technician had messed up one of the samples and could not do most of the bloodwork!!! She did have enough to test his bilirubin, and I was content with that. I saw no reason to trek back across town with 3 kids to draw more blood from this poor little baby when everyone was sure the crazy numbers from the day before were just a lab error. I didn't have time to go back, even if I'd been willing, as my midwife was coming for a follow-up and then we had to get Nathan from school. So I politely told the pediatrician's tech that I refused to go back.
A few hours later, the nurse practitioner called me. She had gotten his bilirubin back and it was down to 15.3. She agreed to wait till Monday to redo the tests and was willing to send us somewhere else. So Monday we went to Quest Labs. They finally agreed to not do a heel stick after I begged enough. They got 3mL of blood from his arms - the most they could safely take from someone his size. And a few hours later we get a call from the pediatrician. Guess what? They messed up!! So now, I'm beyond frustrated. 3 blood draws in 3 days from 2 different labs and 3 errors?!?! seriously!?!
Quest was able to test his thyroid and bilirubin. His thyroid was completely normal and his bilirubin was 0.5! The midwife had shared that higher hemoglobin isn't uncommon in late-term babies, and the only treatment is hydration. So we'll keep feeding him ;) And now I have 0 worries about Jonathan's health. And I had come to realize the doctor was being overly cautious to cover her butt in case his jaundice was due to anything except the hematomas on his head. My midwife said she was 100% certain the hematomas were the cause of jaundice. And the doctor and nurse practitioner told me they were 95% sure. Now that his jaundice is gone, I told the doctor I was not going back to Quest. And she seems to be ok with that. Even though she's still left with unanswered questions. I told her Jonathan's obviously healthy and jaundice free, there's no reason to poke him again just to answer questions that are irrelevant.
Jonathan's pediatrician is very nice. I do like her a ton more than our old doctor. I was worried to say "no" to her test requests because I hear so many stories of CPS getting involved if a doctor thinks there's medical negligence. This doctor knows nothing about me except that I chose a home birth. And its obvious the doctor doesn't trust the midwife. (And the midwife doesn't trust the doctor.) So I have to find the middle ground that is best for my kids. So I'm relieved that the doctor backed off on more bloodwork, and is willing to compromise with me and listen to my mom-instinct. And that I got the courage to question her and say no to things I felt were doing nothing but tormenting Jonathan. Jonathan only has one more heel stick to come - on Monday, just to retest his bilirubin and be sure he's still doing ok. Everyone has finally come to agree that the jaundice is due to the hematomas and as they reabsorb his levels could potentially go back up - though it's unlikely at this point. His thyroid is fine. His hemoglobin - if it truly is elevated - will be fine soon. And his 2nd newborn screening was just as perfect as his first. He's in perfect health :D Praise God! And Praise God that all that insane running around to different labs daily, with a crying baby, is finally over :D
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