Under the Lights

The day after Clay was born test results showed that his bilirubin levels were slightly raised.  The doctors believed this was due to our differing blood types.  They brought in the photo therapy lights for him to use in our room.  After half a day under the lights his levels were back down to where they needed to be. 

The hospital pediatrician had us come back up on Friday morning to test his levels again.  They were higher than when we left, but not quite in the high risk range.  They sent us home and told us to come back again on Saturday morning for another blood draw.

The nurses also encouraged us to put him in the sunlight as much as we could.  It was a cold cloudy day so we didn't have much opportunity.

We cranked up the heat and put him near a window with only a diaper, but Clay was not a big fan of this set up.

Laying on his tummy seemed like a better idea to him. :)

Saturday morning we took him back for another test which revealed his levels once again went up and he needed to be admitted to the NICU for more photo therapy.

For the first six hours he wasn't able to leave the lights even for feeding.  I was thrilled when they finally let us hold him for a bottle!

The nurses and doctors were so kind and gave us a room right across from him where Cole and I spent the night.  Clay stayed in the NICU for a little over 24 hours before we received the good news that he was free to go home.  

During this second hospital stay we were so thankful to have Nana and Poppa watch the big boys for us.  It was so nice for Cole and I both to be at the hospital with Clay and know our boys were having a wonderful time at home with their grandparents.