Out from the blue lights

Yesterday morning they took Zoe out from under the blue lights and her bilirubin levels have stayed sufficiently low this morning that we don't expect her to have to go back under them again. She's also been moved out of the isolette and into a crib (because she's able to generate enough heat on her own to keep herself warm). She appears to be gaining weight consistently, putting on 10-50 grams per day, and her final goal is to take all of her feedings on her own (no tube feedings).

Fortunately, Zoe comes from a family with a strong affinity for food and eating (see: Robbie, Megan (and the Becks generally), Tessa). She's waking up before it's mealtime pretty regularly now, though she still occasionally falls asleep before she's gotten her whole meal down. Here is a picture of her waiting for food:

And one of her after a meal.

Still under the blue light

I visited Zoe this morning and she is still under the blue light, but it sounds like she might be off by tomorrow. Her bilirubin levels peaked yesterday at 10. Now they're down to 8, and if they continue to drop, they'll take her off the lights sometime tonight / early tomorrow morning.

That will be nice, because she's starting to squirm around and pull her protective eye gear off. She also seems to be a little more comfortable when she's wrapped up tight (and she can't be wrapped up when she's under the blue light).

Two nights ago, I got to kangaroo her before we put her back under the lights. Here is a picture I took of her sleeping on my chest.

Phototherapy

Most newborns experience elevated bilirubin levels in the first week of life as their bodies break down the extra red blood cells, a condition also known as jaundice. Zoe was mildly jaundiced, so she went under the blue light to help her body break down the extra bilirubin. Fortunately, since she was only mildly jaundiced, they've still been letting us hold her after feedings. Unfortunately, Zoe has to wear protective eye gear while she's under the lights. And, as her nurses have told us, she's a bit of a squirmer, which means she's constantly fighting to take the eye gear off.

The blue light does lend itself to great photos:

Zoe!

Zoe was born at 34 weeks and 2 days, which means that she was considered a preemie. Fortunately for her, though, her mom did a great job taking care of her during the pregnancy and Zoe was 5 pounds and 5 ounces when she was born. The 34 week, 5 pound milestones are very big in the preemie world, as we quickly learned. Zoe has been in the NICU for five days and has been on room air the whole time! This means that we've gotten to see her uncovered face from the very beginning, and boy is it a cute one...