Austin's First Week

The first week of Austins life was much more eventful than I had anticipated. And it didn't help that I was very weak after delivery with my heart rate getting up to 130s and my blood count almost dropping in half! The first night was fine, we didn't get a ton of sleep but Dan and I were just happy to finally have our little boy! The next day we were hoping to go home, but found out that Austin tested Coombs positive, which means that our incompatible blood mixed in utero and creates more bilirubin than Austin's body can process. The pediatrician recommended a swift transfer to NICU and aggressive UV light therapy to counteract the bilirubin levels. Jamie was in town visiting and immediately went to Brandi's to watch her kids so she could come be with us! Thanks Jamie, we love you!!! He was placed in an incubator and I was only allowed to hold him for 30 minutes every 3 hours to breastfeed. For the first day they placed an tube in his nose that goes into his stomach so they could give him additional breast milk that I was pumping. It was so hard seeing my little boy squirm and cry in that bed all alone and only be able to comfort him by trying to hold his hand. Luckily he actually tolerated it pretty well and comforted fairly easily. Every 6 hours or so they would stick his heel for another bilirubin level to make sure that the levels weren't getting dangerously high. The nurses were so wonderful during our entire stay! They were kind, understanding, and truly appeared to be genuinely concerned about Austin's condition. The doctor was great also, but she kept giving us false hope that the levels were going to drop and we would get to go home. Then when the levels kept going up it was quite an emotional blow! We made sure that someone was with Austin at all times, even though that meant one night of both Dan and I sleeping in chairs by his bed. And thanks to Brandi, GramaShell and Grandma Kristy for staying with us for so long and through all odd hours of the night so Dan and I could get at least a little rest and feel so supported!! On Austin's 5th day the levels finally came down enough that we were discharged from the hospital and he was able to put on his first clothes and take his first car ride!! What a day!!
We were still doing daily heel sticks at a lab to check on his bili levels which had rebounded up a bit after taking him home. He had his first pediatrician appointment at one week and the doctor was very pleased with how he looked. He had gained weight, now 7lbs and 20inches!! And although his levels were still going up a bit she was encouraged that they would soon peak and start to fall. Today Austin is 1 week and 1 day old and we got the good news that his levels have dropped and tomorrow will be his first day without a heel stick!!! I don't know if this mommy has ever been so happy!!! Thanks to everyone for their support and well wishes! Dan and I couldn't have made it through this difficult week without you all!!

Austin and Teddy before the Coombs result

Austin in his incubator with UV lights on, mask to protect his eyes, and feeding tube in his nose with Daddy comforting him

Austin sleeping soundly with mask on after feeding tube removed!

Feeling good after a 30minute feeding

Discharged!! Austin in his first outfit!

Time to take my little munchkin man home!!


What a sweetie!!

Home at last!!


Happy and relieved new parents!

Its good to be home!!


First 4th of July
Cousins!!
First Bath!
Hanging out with Aunt B