Lillian Comes Home

Dan and Carrie's baby girl, Lillian Diane Chambers, was born on Wednesday, May 11, 2016  at 1:23 pm weighing in at 7 lbs even and measuring 21.5 inches long, one lb less and two inches longer than her sister Vivian's statistics at her birth in 2014. Lillian was born by by pre-scheduled C-section and she actually waited until the appointed time. Based on her mom's quite expansive girth during pregnancy, an early arrival could not be ruled out. Here is my first picture of Lillian, texted to Frank and me by her dad shortly after her birth.

Lillian was a high achiever already - scoring a 9 out of 10 on her Apgar evaluations at 1 and 5 minutes after birth. Apgar scoring rates a baby's breathing effort, heart rate, muscle tone, reflexes, and skin color. But Lillian's stay in the hospital would last 11 days.

Although robust, Lillian spent ten days in the NICU following a pre-planned surgery for an annular pancreas, a rare condition occurring in 1 out of 12,000 to 15,000 newborns where part of the intestine is constricted by the growth pattern of the pancreas during development. The condition had been diagnosed in utero due to her mom's retention of extra amniotic fluid (hence mom's large uncomfortable size).  On Thursday, May 12th, the morning after her birth, Lillian weathered a two-hour surgery well, in which her intestine was re-routed. Her little intestine needed to remain empty while it healed, so it was continually drained while Lillian was nourished intravenously via a PICC line.

But dad and mom visited her and Dan read to her while she was recuperating. She listened attentively.

Once sufficient healing had occurred, the intravenous feeding method could be discontinued gradually. Feeding by the normal oral method was introduced four days after surgery. On Monday, May 16th Lillian was allowed to eat for the first time. It was a team effort. Dad Dan did the honors of the first feeding. Mom Carrie had provided the breast milk from her pumped and accumulated supply.

Carrie fed her too, but from a bottle initially. Lillian could not nurse directly from Carrie just yet since input and output had to be measured and accounted for.

Once fed, Lillian slept well. I think I can see a hint of a smile around those eyes. All tubes are out. Tummy is full. Ah!

Dan, the proud and relieved daddy is snuggling his little girl. Doesn't he look pleased and doesn't she look peaceful nestled against her daddy?

Carrie poses for a picture with a wide-eyed, awake, alert Lillian. "So this is my mommy from the outside, huh?"

Can this be a yawn of contentment?

On Tuesday, May 17th, big sister, two-year-old Vivian, was allowed to robe up and enter the NICU to meet her one-week-old little sister, in person, for the first time.

Lillian was released to come home from the hospital Sunday, May 22nd. She had successfully demonstrated that she could nurse directly from her mom and generate output just as she should. A family portrait taken seated on the couch in their living room shows a very happy dad and mom and two daughters. Home. Together. At last.

Science works wonders these days. Not only was Lillian diagnosed before birth, but a team of surgical specialists was on board to handle the major surgery flawlessly and guide Lillian expeditiously on her way to nursing and processing her milk intake the conventional way. We were relieved and amazed and most of all thankful.

Welcome to the world, Lillian. We are so glad to have you here!