Jaundice :(

[Kelly1101]

So we went to the pediatrician yesterday, and he affirmed that Emma is a bit too yellow, so we had the lab work done and her bilirubin level was 18.4

We've had her on the little biliblanket at the house, which is nice because we can still hold her and nurse her and change her.

She's at least eating well, and making lots of messy diapers... AND has already regained back to her birth rate, at her appointment yesterday (although she had only dropped from 7lb4 to 7lb even, so not much to regain).

We just got back from doing the lab work again, waiting to hear if her bilirubin level has dropped any (although, talking to the nurse who came last night to set up the biliblanket, she may be still at the same level, and need another 24 hours or so to drop.... really at this point I'll be happy as long as it hasn't risen any).

So, those of you who have had babies, tell me stories about how she'll be perfectly fine...

*sigh* /end first-time-mom-fretting

[Auraji]

I dont have any advice or experience with this, but I hope she gets better soon

[~Katie~]

My DS was jaundiced, and my best recommendation is nurse, nurse, nurse and get out in some sunshine in addition to the biliblanket. If its warm enough, lay her naked on a blanket for a little while each day. It does take some time to go down but lots of poops are a good sign that she's eliminating it. Jaundice happens in a lot of babies, especially those born a wee bit early (as I suspect DS was)

[JD5351]

Yeah, get her a little sun if you can.

Jaundice is fairly common. I was jaundiced horribly when I was born. A friend of mine who just had a baby, her baby was jaundiced too. He was in the hospital too, and spent a night in the "baby tanning bed." Emma will be fine.

[kamane18]

Originally Posted by KatieJD

My DS was jaundiced, and my best recommendation is nurse, nurse, nurse and get out in some sunshine in addition to the biliblanket. If its warm enough, lay her naked on a blanket for a little while each day. It does take some time to go down but lots of poops are a good sign that she's eliminating it. Jaundice happens in a lot of babies, especially those born a wee bit early (as I suspect DS was)

Sorry to DDC crash, but :

Even if not quite warm enough to be naked on a blanket, getting a good amount of sunshine on as much of her body as possible will help. Sit out back with her on a blanket? Go to the park with the stroller?

[the_lissa]

My first had really bad dehydration, jaundice, and weight loss. After a couple days of not going more than an hour or two of nursing her, she was fine. Good luck.

[lotus.blossom]

My ds was (late and) jaundiced. I think it was pretty much cleared up by the time we left the hospital (5 days later....)

She should be fine! Your milk has probably come in, right? It'll work its way out! No fretting!!

[Sadie Lake]

When my dd was born, my m/w told me that if she became jaundiced at all, to get her into the sunlight. She never did, but we sat in the glider by the window just in case!

I don't know if its warm enough to be bare-skinned outside yet or not, but you could even sit and nurse with her in a sunny window. I don't know exactly what it does, but its apparently really good for them.

Keep us posted!

Sadie

[twins+1]

My twins were born at 35 wks and both were jaundiced , but they didn't need the bili blankets (though it was close). My sister's daughter was born at 35 wks and her bili went up to almost 22 (if I remember correctly). She was getting very listliss and wasn't eating well so she ended up needing to go to Children's hospital for a couple days, but then turned around and did well. They did the bili blanket at home first too, but she just needed the care at the hospital. So, if it does come to a hospital stay, it'll probably be short and sweet and then she'll be fine. However, it sounds really reassuring that she is pooping a lot and eating well. She may just turn a corner soon!

[nycmom18]

for us sunshine through window-my ds hated it....

and lots of nursing was fine

we never had levels checked though-doctor didnt deem necessary....

the 3rd day it peaked and then dropped afterwards....

just keep an eye out for yellow in her eyes

[j_p_i]

No advice here, but and hoping she gets better soon!

[catters]

DS was pretty jaundiced at birth and he's perfectly fine now. I was told to let him get some sun, keep nursing and he did fine. She'll be fine. Keep watching out and try not to stress.

[Misbehavedmeg]

I know how you are feeling right now. When I first had my dd, she was jaundiced pretty badly and we were having trouble with breastfeeding. We were exhausted and had to drive to the hospital every day to get her checked. It was awful. I promise, with everything you are doing, it will be gone soon and everything will be fine.

[Kelly1101]

Well, we tested again this morning, after about 14 hours on the blanket, and she's dropped a point, to 17.4.

So, one more night of the blanket, test again... hopefully tomorrow she'll be a lot better.

Thanks for the stories and thoughts

[mamarootoo]

: glad it dropped. we had a "lello baby" too, and what Katie said is exactly what i would have told you.

so scary, and i HATED having the test done (poor little baby heals... ) but
just keep nursing, and she'll be fine

[Limabean1975]

I know it's stressful, but jaundice is so common and easy to treat! She'll be fine. Sunshine is best! With DS1,he was born in the dead of winter and we did not have any really sunny windows, so we bought plant lights - actually just grow-lightbulbs in regular lamps. Did the trick in about a week!

[scrappingmom]

ditto to what others are saying ... use the blanket, get the sun, if you dont think she's warm enough put some of your socks or dads(assuming you dont have leg warmers) on her and let her lay/sit/nurse in sun thru the window at least, letting her torso get the sun is best since its most of the body

my DS#2 had jaundice quite bad, i dont remember #s, it was over 10 years ago, but he has orange hair and so the yellow ddint look so yellow in comparison.. KWIM.?! Anyway, we ended up spending just under 2 days with him under bili lights and he was fine. He went on to walking at 8mo,singing himself happy birthday at his first b-day, carrying on conversations any adult understood and reading by 2 .....you get the point ... he is now 10 and doing great

so yeah, dont worry to much just keep getting the sun and nursing. I know we are looking at 70's/80's the next couple days in maine i imagine it would be warm enough for short times even outside with minimal clothing???!!

[kriket]

you live kinda close to me and DH tells me that its going to be 80 on Saturday! Surely warm enough to get some sun!

Don't have any advice, I've always just heard to nurse nurse nurse!

[Kelly1101]

Tested again today, and down to a 15, yay!

Dr. says that she should stay on the blanket through the weekend, then by Monday we'll test again, and likely at that point she'll be totally fine.

[Asher]

Originally Posted by KatieJD

My DS was jaundiced, and my best recommendation is nurse, nurse, nurse and get out in some sunshine in addition to the biliblanket. If its warm enough, lay her naked on a blanket for a little while each day. It does take some time to go down but lots of poops are a good sign that she's eliminating it. Jaundice happens in a lot of babies, especially those born a wee bit early (as I suspect DS was)

Yup, absolutely!