First sunbathe, 3-day old Kate

Jan 30,2007

Here's Kate getting some sunshine. We learned that Kate had a slight jaundice and elevated bilirubin levels when she was discharged. Sunlight exposure is supposed to break down the bilirubins on her bloodstream which are still not processed properly by her young liver.

We did this as the doctor advised for the next two days. However, our follow-up checkup with the paediatrician the next day revealed her bilirubin had not got down to an acceptable range. The doc advised us to have a photo UV treatment for Kate.

We initially intended to go to Thomson Medical Centre for that but we thought their rates for a simple UV treatment and ward is rather unreasonable. We went to KK hospital instead. To our relief, Kate only had to stay at KK overnight since her B levels went down the next day.

The UV photo treatment involves exposing a baby under a UV lamp for 24 hours or more, with their eyes covered, much like what you do when you're sunbathing. The only difference is the light from these lamps is not hot like sunlight. So no sunburns.

Sometimes the baby would require 2 set of lamps, top and bottom while they lie on a transparent container, depending on how elevated their B levels are.

Jan 31,2007

Here's a snap of mommy and Kate before she was checked in. Kat was still having a hard time getting up from a chair. It's only her fourth day after delivery.

KK = Kandang Kerbau Hospital

For me, its Kat and Kate hospital. :) Apt.