So, Devan tolerated labor beautifully and had Apgars of 9 and 10. Nobody gets an Apgar of 10 unless you are the wife ofor the attending physician or the hospital president....this was her jinx, I believe. Like most newborns, Devan was having a little difficulty regulating her temperature so was placed under the warmer before we left L&D and again when we got to post-partum. No big deal...so was Colin.
So, while she was in the nursery, I got about 1.5 hours of sleep and woke up wondering why I hadn't heard anything about my baby yet. Hello, nurse? Can you come to my room for a minute? Thanks.
I asked my nurse what was going on with my baby. She said she was going to assess her and bring her to me. About 45 minutes later, no baby but here comes the nursery Nurse Practitioner. Hmmmm....what's up?
I was told that Devan had a retching episode and turned blue from vomiting so they wanted to watch her a little bit. At this point, I'm not really that concerned as this is not uncommon in newborns. Ugh...being a peds nurse is a detriment at this point. Ok...whatever. Keep an eye on her. Jake and I went to the nursery to see her and she looks awesome...sleeping under the warmer, no distress.
Hours go by...what's going on? Well, says the NP...we're concerned that she might have an infection with her temperature instability and her blue spell. Hmmmm...really? (in my head). Ok...blood work sent.
A little bit later...Devan had another retching spell...we would like to monitor her in the NICU. Seriously? ok.
In the NICU: no temperature instability. NG tube placed to get belly contents out and small amount of bile seen. Belly xray done. MDs concerned for septic ileus (paralysis of bowel secondary to infection). Want to do lumbar puncture (spinal tap). Ok...now it's getting a little concerning.
After initial tummy aspirate, no more bile and no more belly draining. Devan poops a few hours later and several times every day (no longer concern for ileus or other obstruction as her intestines are clearly working properly.) Xray read with no final diagnosis but with words "can not exclude pneumatosis." UGH. Pneumatosis is little air bubbles that get trapped in the bowel wall (to put it very simply)...not good and generally associated with severe diseases. Plan of care: 7 days of IV antibiotics and bowel rest.
I spent my time as an inpatient diligently pumping every 2 hours and walking back and forth to the NICU...which my body certainly paid for but totally worth it. I held her, got to know the nurses and already knew most of the pediatricians as I've worked with them all.
Ok...at this point, plan of care understood. The short story of all of this is that Devan began showing signs of hunger within her first 24 hours of life, never looked or acted sick, never had temp problems, additional retching or oxygen issues. Her treatment was very conservative and she did well. She was always strong (she kicked out her central PICC line!) The poor baby wasn't allowed to eat for 6 days (thank you to the attending that didn't make us wait that extra day!!). She was discharged after 7 days in the NICU and has been thriving ever since.
The experience of being discharged from the hospital after giving birth and not bringing a baby home sucked. All we can dwell on now, though, is how beautiful and perfect our little baby girl is and just enjoy that as of January 25th, 2010 she's home where she belongs;)
