01/17/2025
A topic of conversation that I find myself frequently discussing with newly postpartum parents is jaundice/phototherapy. When my clients are facing the same concerns, they often ask me; "did you go through this with your kids?"
So here it goes, our story!
Our first daughter unfortunately needed a vacuum delivery. This caused bruising to her head which ultimately raised her bilirubin levels. After 2 days of monitoring her in hospital, the doctor decided it would be best to bring in the bili blanket and treat her with phototherapy. The original plan was to treat her for 12-24 hours and 'she should be good'.
As new parents we had never heard of this equipment before. As they wheeled it into the room, my husband and I broke down. Fearful of the unknown and sad that our tiny baby would be stuck to medical equipment when we should have been at home snuggling.
They placed a little mask over her eyes to protect them from the UV light, and then tied it up around her waist. The blanket was very warm and in the way, but I knew it was a necessary inconvenience.
After 24 hours of treatment, and more heel pricks, we were told we would need another day of treatment. At this point, we were 3 days in the postpartum unit + 1 day in l&d. All I could think about was breathing the fresh fall air. Especially knowing I would be stuck inside a hot stuffy room for another day.
In the end, we made it through with our bright little sunshine baby.
In hindsight, it probably wasn't so bad. The lovely cocktail of hormones, fear and discomfort was probably the worst part.
To any parents navigating a similar journey, know that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed. Take it one step at a time. Before you know it, it will be a distant memory.
