Newborn jaundice...

[SummerLynn]

Hi, new here from the Jan/Feb DDCs. I had my baby last thursday and he had to stay an extra day in the hospital for some phototherapy for jaundice. I wasnt too worried and the levels dropped and he came home the next day. On monday, 2-1, he went to our family dr who said he looked fine and just to watch for it to get worse or anything. Now, a week later, I have been to my dr and he went with me. First thing my dr said was aww what a cute baby but he looks yellow. Then I had to have a home nurse come for me (high BP) and she also commented on him being yellow in the face. But the thing is, I DONT SEE IT! lol I assume since thye seem to just be making passing comments that all is ok, but I still cant help but worry that it will get out of hand because I dont even see what I'm looking at. So I guess my question is, will I know if it truly gets worse or to the point that he needs to go back in for more phototherapy? I should also add that he is exclusively breast fed and feeds plenty in a 24 hour period much more than the reccomended 12 times.

[firewoman]

I wouldn't worry about it too much if he is eating and gaining well. As long as he is wetting and pooping several times a day that is a good indication he is getting enough milk. My babies have had a yellow tint to their skin and they weren't even jaundiced. You can also put him in sunlight coming through a window for 10 to 15 minutes naked for at home phototherapy if you are worried. Keep nursing nursing nursing and it will work itself out.

Congratulations BTW!

[mrstanimal]

I went through the same thing with my son. Had to stay an extra day under the blue lights. No fun, and I was pretty much a wreck. Our ped insisted we continue testing his bilirubin levels every couple days, and I became even more paranoid ! Instead of enjoying having my baby home with me, I was examining his complexion, trying to figure out if he looked "more yellow". Ugh, it's so hard. Anyhow, like the previous poster said, keep on nursing, and it will work its way out. My ped told me that if you notice the yellow working its way down, like if the chest starts to look yellow, then more phototherapy may be needed. It will be okay though. Jaundice is common, and will be gone before you know it. Then you can move onto the next worry !

[CookAMH]

Just want to add that jaundice and come and go as it's released and expelled from his system. I think you would start to see it in his eyes (though some yellow there is ok) and lower on his body as it increased, if it does. Just keep nursing and call doc if you feel you need to.

[JordanKX]

I was told after they are a week old, the bilirubin chart doesn't even register... meaning, once they're over a week old, there is limited worry.

My LO was in the hospital for two days under the bili-lights and 10 days later still getting comments on his orange-ness. So I went back in to make sure. And he was kinda yellow for the next month. BF as much as possible! And if you're in an area that gets sun in February, take him outside. But really, as my pedi told me, again, the fear is in the first week. After that, the charts don't even register. So unless he's like carrot color, you shouldn't worry too much.

[*Aimee*]

Originally Posted by JordanKX

I was told after they are a week old, the bilirubin chart doesn't even register... meaning, once they're over a week old, there is limited worry.

My LO was in the hospital for two days under the bili-lights and 10 days later still getting comments on his orange-ness. So I went back in to make sure. And he was kinda yellow for the next month. BF as much as possible! And if you're in an area that gets sun in February, take him outside. But really, as my pedi told me, again, the fear is in the first week. After that, the charts don't even register. So unless he's like carrot color, you shouldn't worry too much.

No, two of my boys were hospitalized for jaundice and both of them were after a week old.

All three of my boys had pretty bad jaundice, DS2 was just 2 levels from needing a complete blood transfusion. The crazy part was he did not look that yellow to me, and we took him in just as a precaution to DS1's bad jaundice.

Both of my boys issues were caused because I have IGT that was undiagnosed and they were not getting enough milk to poop out their bili. They still had meconium at a week old. With DS3 I started supplementing formula in the hospital and his levels never peaked above 14 which is really good!

What I'm trying to say is, if he's eating and pooping a lot I wouldn't worry. All of my boys have stayed yellow for weeks. *I* would personally do another bili check because of my history and it'd make me feel better. But I really think you'll be fine.

[beatgenxer]

just wanted to agree with the PPs. my LO was in the hospital for two days under the lights (his highest level was 21 and orange like a pumpkin!). if his chest starts to look yellow again, then take him in. also if your LO is EBF like mine is, then it will take longer for the jaundice to work its way out of his system (something about the breastmilk not binding with the dead red blood cells as well as formula does). the dr i spoke with said i could give him formula for a day or two to "flush out" his system once we got home, but if i didn't mind Jack being a little yellow for a little while longer, then i could stick with breastmilk.

i was paranoid too, so don't freak yourself out. if you really get concerned, take him to your ped for a bilirubin check...otherwise, just keep feeding and loving him! my LO is perfectly fine now and your's will be too

[emmaegbert]

I have had two babies, both developed jaundice, and it was handled REALLY differently...

First was born in a hospital-based birth center. B/c he was born too fast to get the ABX in (I was GBS+) he was kept for observation. He also had a mild shoulder dystocia and lots of facial bruising. He was 38w gestation. Then he developed jaundice and they kept him 4 days under lights. They roomed me in (thank goodness!!) but it was really stressful and the poor thing had his heels being stuck multiple times a day.

Second was born at home, w/ no ABX (I was still GBS+). She was born in a few minutes, didn't get stuck, no bruising, was almost 41w gestation. But she also got yellow. We knew I had a lot of milk and nursed, nursed, nursed, took her out in the sun, laid her naked on a blanket beside a sunny window. MWs said if she's feeding, peeing, pooping, and not acting lethargic (and for a NB that just means does she wake to feed on her own and does she stay awake long enough to get a good nursing session?). MWs visited every few days for first 2 weeks and said that jaundice occurs in at least 1/4 of babies and is very rarely dangerous, and in their opinion its greatly overtreated. Anyway, we basically did nothing with our second.

They are both fine!

I think most docs are NOT conservative in treating NBs. If the ped isn't worried, and baby is acting normal, I wouldn't worry too much. It takes a couple of weeks to really go away. Both my kids kind of looked like they'd used too much self-tanner for a while.

Congratulations!