I don't know guys, I have a feeling you'll be hearing the word "breast" a lot on here for awhile

This morning we took Truett for his two day check-up, knowing we might get some bad news. Ever heard of Bilirubin? Well it's a son of a bitch level of something or other that measures for jaundice in babies. We were actually allowed to discharge from the hospital Wednesday night instead of Thursday morning and it might've had to do with the begging and pleading I did with the doctor or perhaps to do with getting rid of the hippie-natural-childbirth freak who has been taking up room 3 for 4 days already. I'm not sure but we left a little ahead of schedule on one condition. That we get our ickle little baby to the doctor by Friday morning since his bili-fuckyou-rubin levels were a touch on the high side. Seeing this coming - as he had been poked and prodded more than I cared for - I had already made the appointment for today with maybe just a tiny touch of panic in my voice.

Bud held Truett as the nurse poked his TINY LITTLE FOOT this morning - the same foot that has been poked I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES ALREADY - and I sat in the little plastic chair with my fingers in my ears and my eyes squeezed firmly shut. Truett wailed and I have this hazy memory of reaching out for him before the nurse could actually put a band aid on his foot, all, haand me my baaby, snif! I neeed to nurse him. I actually think I sounded like that. 

So yep, yeah, his jaundice has not in fact improved, something the smiley doctor did not seem too concerned about but to be safe we are bringing him back in tomorrow and he thinks there is a 50/50 chance he will need light therapy. Seriously. A nurse will come to the house and put him under a light bulb. In the meantime we should unwrap him and put him in the sun for a few minutes a day and I am meant to nurse him as much as possible - duh because that's pretty much all he wants to do anyway. We also have to supplement his feedings with a little bit of formula because that helps get all of his systems, um, moving. I was skeptical of the added formula, wearing my natural-child-rearing-self-righteous a little high and tight, asking the doctor if this could possibly interfere with breast feeding? He assured me, so long as I began all feedings at the breast, it shouldn't matter. Then he told me to quit reading so many books and get over myself already. Okay, not really, but he thought it. He also wore a bow tie, true story.

Which leaves me with the fact that I have just finished nursing and turned  Truett over to Bud who promptly stripped him down, took off his own shirt (no idea why) and traipsed out to the backyard, bottle in hand. 

Comments

[sarah a]

Sounds like everything is going fantastic (minus the jaundice)!! Can't wait to visit Sunday!! Maybe I can pick up some Guinness cheese on my way in:)

[sarah a]

"Guinness Cheese"...yummmmo...but really I meant to put an "and" in there...

[Hope Sypert]

I'm pretty sure they do make a type of cheese with beer. Either way, sounds good. I have been enjoying a tasty black and tan here and there since getting home the other day. So nice to indulge in a beer without feeling like you are committing a cardinal sin.

[Tammy]

He is georgous!!

[Nancy]

Your instincts are spot on. I knew they would be.

[Robin]

hey hope!! you're doing great. i suggest ditching the formula. breast is best, no matter what they say. but, it is nice to have bud feed the baby every once in a while. are you pumping? he is so stinkin' cute, although i am still recovering from him *not* being named Cider for real. I liked that name, but Truett is better.

[Hope Sypert]

I am pretty much doing breast-only. Lactation consultant said a small amount of formula in a pinch (middle of night, I just don't have quite enough milk to satisfy him) is okay, but to keep it v. small. I figure it like this. If it helps me sleep, which helps me make milk, than a little is worth it. But no question to me that breast is best, I've never once considered all-formula if I could help it.

PS - I'm sure he will remain Cider to some people!