One Week Check Up

Today was Evan's one week check up. Sadly he's now under his discharge weight (8 pounds 1 ounce) but only by an ounce. We've been having issues with his nursing. He's such a savage sucker that he tore my nipples apart. So we were trying to supplement at the breast to make sure he was getting his nutrition but not nursing on me very long. After talking w/ a LC we went and got a nipple shield and that has been a saving grace. He's now up to nursing around 20 minutes on each side before passing out. The doctor is semi-concerned with the weight loss, but is hopeful with the nipple shield that we'll bounce back. He still wants us to feed him at least a couple of ounces of formula a day to assist in weight gain. We have to go back next Monday for a weight check so that he can make sure we're back on track for gaining. He also had "issues" with jaundice. They were checking his bili levels before we were released from the hospital and determined he was in the low to moderate risk level, but it didn't warrant therapy. We had to go back to the hospital to have him tested again the day after we were sent home. They called a couple of hours later to say that his levels had risen but were still in the low risk range. The doctor today say he's actually looking better. He described how jaundice "leaves the body" and that it will leave from toe to head and right now from the waist down he's all clear. That tells him that he's on the right road to getting over it. Hopefully with the added nutrition and longer nursing it will assist in getting it out of his body sooner. Other than those two issues he's extremely healthy. He's in the 90th percentile for height and 50th percentile for weight. And he has a 14 inch head. No wonder I tore?

And get this, the little terd is so strong that he raises his head and controls it like none other, looking around the room. Obviously he isn't seeing much, but I cannot believe that he has such amazing control at such a young age.