Update of Rebecca - 14 feb 07

Today is Rebecca's due date, so she is about 2 weeks old.

Rebecca has got Jaundice. It went so high that the bilirubin level reached 19 on 09 Feb 07. The danger lvl is 20. The danger is that there might be some brain damage if the level is too high. There were some mishaps at the PD's clinic (Dr Edmund Koh from Tiong Bahru baby clinic), and although the blood test was done in the morning, we only got to know the result at night. Apparantly, the lab did not send a despatch to pick up the sample from the clinic for the testing. As such,we had to pay an extra $30 for the renting of the bili bed, as it was delivered on Sat, 10 Feb 07.

That's Rebecca on the Bilibed. It comprised of the top and bottom lamps, and Rebecca has got to be naked, except for the eye patch and diapers. Even the diapers have to be folded like a bikini bottom! Rebecca didn't really liked it very much, and she kept waking up to drink and rub her eyepatch off! We had her on there over the weekend before we went back to Dr Koh on Monday, 12 Feb 07.

When we reached there at about 10.07am for the 10.00am appointment, we found the clinic full of people. Apaarantly, there were all these children having common cold, and the parents bring them to see the PD! Imagine you have to pay $40 consultation fee when you would pay less than 1/2 the amount going to the GP! There was even one mother who was negotiating with her 4 yr old son to go home first to bathe before coming back as there were alot of people. The son refused. In the end, the mother exclaimed, "ask the jiejie(the clinic assistant) and she will tell you to go home first. your mummy tell you, you will not believe. jiejie tell you, you believe!" Imagine that! no respect and no mother's diginity. If my child ever treat their mother like that, i would have disciplined them for not being respectful!

Anyway, even though we have an appointment, we still have towait our trun. After going for breakfast, we went back to the clinic and demanded to see Dr Koh. We had an appointment, and we still have to wait for those walk-in with common flu only! In the end, the clinci assistant slotted us in and we got to see Dr Koh. Another blood test was done before we left for home to continue Rebecca on the bilibed treatment.

The blood test came back at a bilirubin level of 10.4. After the ep[isode at the clinic, we decided not to go back to the PD, but instead wait for the 1st month check-up, which we intend to do at Yishun polyclinic. Anyway, we had the bilibed for 2 more days.

Although Rebecca still seemed abit yellow, it is much lower than before. Although uncomfortable, the bilibed is more effective than sunning for 10mins every morning and evening.

Thank God for keeping Rebecca safe!