Gelbe Haut (Yellow skin)

The last few days have been unexpectedly different. The Jaundice had persisted and gotten worse, so they decided he needed photo therapy (fake sun). We've been offered one explanation that people with darker skin tend to get jaundice more often in the colder climates because the sun levels are so much lower than the norm where our forefathers came from. The phototherapy helps break down the chemical causing the yellow skin so it can be removed from the body. It is certainly the case here that there is not much sun! Sunrise is at 7:30 and sunset at 4:30, and the sun is very low in the sky! Add to that that the weather has been dreadful (cold and raining), it must have contributed to making the situation worse than if we were in sunny Sydney!

The phototherapy is almost continuous, only stopping to feed him every few hours. It also takes a few days to stabilise the jaundice at acceptable levels. As a result, we have been very disappointed to have to stay at the hospital for at least 4 days longer AND we hardly get to hold and play with Owen. During the therapy he mostly just lies there sleeping. When he's feeding, it's not the same either, as he has various sensors and a drip attached and we have to be careful not to pull anything out. We've found a cultural annoyance during all of this - the German doctors don't actually tell you what is happening unless you ask them. We've often had blood tests, and waited forever for the results and explanations of what is happening. It's only several hours later when we've fretted away and hunt down the doctor and ask them that they tell us what they are doing. Now that we know how it works, it's alot better. We chase the doctor when we know the results are ready and get updates straight away.

We are thankful, however, that this is a short term treatable condition with no long term consequences (for the medicos out there, there are no blood incompatibilities, etc). We'll just have to put up with the inconvenience for a few days longer. One benefit has been that it is easier for Jo to get sleep, so she's been trying to store up some for the coming weeks.

Here is a photo of Owen sunbaking. Notice that they have opened his nappy to give him a VERY even tan.

The lastest good news is that he has been feeding really well now, and the jaundice is (slowly) going away. We are hoping to come home on Sunday.