long update on ivy girls jaundice:

after asking multiple doctors while at the hospital, asking the VNA nurses and even the pediatrician if supplementing with formula would help with the jaundice, they all said no (even though everything we read online said otherwise). I knew in my gut that she was not getting enough milk from me breast feeding which was why I started thinking about supplementing while we were still in the hospital. she had been getting 2oz of donor milk plus a small amount from me for every feed at the hospital. I was only pumping 1oz and the doctors all said that was more than enough for her for each feed. this made no sense to me because why would she go from eating 2oz every feed to eating half that amount when we go home? not to mention they told us the more she eats the more she pees and poops the quicker the billirubin will leave her body. so how would feeding her less be beneficial at all?

3 days ago we decided to take it upon ourselves to start supplementing with 1oz formula and 1oz breast milk every feed. we were tired of seeing nurses prick her heels to test her blood and tired of not getting any real help or advice from the doctors. she was so cranky and upset any time she wasn’t eating or asleep and we just knew she needed to be eating more. 

today her skin has finally turned to its normal color. she is no longer yellow and her mood has changed significantly. she is a completely different baby than she was a few days ago in the best way. the first photo is from a few days ago (so yellow) and the second photo is from today. the VNA nurse will be back tomorrow to test her billirubin levels and I can guarantee they have shot right down.

the hospital really wanted me to exclusively breast feed. the way they push breast feeding there made me super uncomfortable. it was very forced and unnatural. if I could produce enough to strictly breast feed I would, but I wasn’t. it was almost like they were offended any time I mentioned the use of formula. i’m sure this will be the first of many times I learn to trust my gut when it comes to my child. I am so happy with our decision and so happy to see our ivy girl feeling better 🩷