Back to the Hospital

Unfortunately I'm writing this post from Children's Hospital. Maren has developed mastitis - an infection of the breast tissue that normally occurs in nursing mothers.

I took her to the pediatrician yesterday, feeling a bit silly, thinking she just had an infected pimple or boil on her chest. Thankfully I took her because the doctor took one look and said it was indeed neonatal mastitis and one of the worst cases she'd seen at that. She sent us home with a prescription for oral antibiotics and instructions to put warm compresses on the infected area to help draw out the infection. We went back to the pediatrician today for a checkup and after she determined there was no improvement she sent us to Children's.

We are finally in our own room after spending an excruciating 4+hours in the ER (with the television stuck on the Disney channel - ugh). Maren is getting IV antibiotics every 6 hours. I'm not sure how long they'll keep us - one doctor guessed 2-3 days but another said we might get to go home tomorrow if she's improved enough.

Thankfully there don't seem to be any long-term complications of this infection, if caught early. It looks like they won't have to surgically drain the infection which is great because that could cause damage to her breast tissue and create problems down the road.

Please pray that we get out of here soon with a healthy little girl. It's horrible to see my baby back in the hospital at 13 days old hooked up to IV's and monitors. Hopefully my next post will be a good one!