I just had a baby a week ago and she is jaundiced. My first baby got jaundice really bad and had to wear that bili light pad thing for like 2 weeks. I really don't want this one to have to go through that too.
When we left the hospital they said her bili levels were normal but she was already a little yellow. Since i have taken her home i have been trying to keep her in the sun or in sunlight coming through the windows but the past two days have been cloudy and there hasn't been much sun. She has been sleeping alot but she was nursing alot and had ALOT of poopy diapers and wet diapers every day since she was born but last night they started to slow down. Is there anything else i can be doing to get her through this on the cloudy days? She sleeps so hard i literally can't get her to wake up and nurse until she wakes up herself and when i do get her up by getting her fussy she only nurses for a short bit before falling back asleep and i can't get her to keep going. Any advice?? I really really don't want her to have to go through the bili testing and lights and all. Anything i can do to keep her bili levels down.
I do not know, but if you have ANY concerns about her jaundice status, you need to consult with her doctor. Don't mess around with it. Please.
J.,
Welcome to mamapedia!
Congratulations on your new baby! I'm sorry she has jaundice. My oldest son had jaundice. He was in the NICU for 8 days. He was released when his bilirubin count was below 15. he was yellow for a good two weeks.
Lots of sunlight and lots of breastfeeding to get her system cleaned out.
Otherwise? You need to consult with your pediatrician with your concerns about her yellowness and bilirubin count. IF her count was too high, they would NOT have released her from the hospital - as least I would hope not.
Good luck!
My son was like your first baby.
His bili levels got higher, AFTER I brought him home.
At the hospital, he was okay enough to bring him home. But he got worse after he came home.
I, noticed he was getting worse. I took him to the Doc. At first she said just put him in sunlight etc. BUT that does not work. Not at the level my son was. I TOLD the Doc, I don't think the sun is enough to get him better. I took him to another Doctor. And just visually, she could IMMEDIATELY tell what his exact bili levels were. And it was high. We then had to take him right to the hospital, got blood tests and the 2nd Doc was right. It was then that the bili pad was ordered and my son had to be on that for 2 weeks. And I was still breastfeeding him. He was on that bili pad, 24/7, and the only time I could take him off it was to nurse him.
And he slept.... constantly.
The thing is, I think you SHOULD take your baby to the Doctor.
And follow up on it. And see... how your baby is, now.
High bili levels are dangerous.
For me, I KNEW in my gut, that my son was not well.
The 1st Doctor, just thought the sun would be enough. And she told me to nurse a lot. But the 2nd Doctor, like me, said he was getting worse. The ER Doctor also told me that sunlight is not effective. Especially so when the baby's jaundice is not getting better. Or gets worse.
Sunlight and nursing my son a ton, did not help.
Bad Jaundice and high bili levels, can cause brain damage and other things.
Your baby, needs to be taken to the Doctor.
Sunlight... is not the solution.
It is not good enough.
My son, was getting yellower and yellower, and even his eyes. I was so pissed off when the 1st Doctor said to just put him in the sunlight. I KNEW, his condition was worse.
My Husband, was SOOOOOO glad, I insisted on getting my son treated. He too, thought sunlight was enough.
With my son, there was a certain point... at which... I KNEW, sunlight and tons of nursing, was NOT helping. At all.
So you have to know... at what point... you need to get your baby further evaluated.
Being under that bili light, for my son, was not a big deal at all. He was a newborn. He does not remember it at all. It was not a hardship for him. He slept all the time. While he was ill.
My first was jaundice and had the light. When my 6 yr old was born, she was also jaundiced. Her number was 12, which was close to normal not too high-so I was told. Anyway, I would open the blinds and let the sun shine in. She was born in March so we did have lots of cloudy days. I just got her in there as much as possible. I also put here basinet in the living room so she would get a bit more light even if she was sleeping. I think it lasted about 2 weeks but never used the light. I had to go to the doc every week so they could check her. Definitely follow through with that. If her numbers get too high, you just might have to use the light.
We did the billi light for a few weeks with our oldest. Not fun!
We set the swarm to wake him every 3 hours to eat. We did have to wake him up sometimes. We would move his legs, tickle him, run a cool washcloth all over him. But we were very careful to wake him every 3 hours.
I think I would call the pediatrician and let him/her know that things "started to slow down" yesterday. The nurse will probably ask some questions to help your doctor decide what needs to happen. Your ped can order a bilirubin count to see where her level is. This does not necessarily mean she will need the light, so please don't hesitate to call.
Also, doesn't a little sunlight go a long way? It's been awhile, but I thought we were told just 5 or 10 minutes a day would be a big help.
Keep feeding her and call her ped! They are used to getting lots of calls for newborns, because it's a scary time and a critical time. Just call. You'll feel better.
We had the bilirubin tests every day for 5 days after birth but we didn't need the lights.
The pediatrician said our son looked jaundiced but the exam room had yellow walls so I don't think it was as bad as he seemed to think it was.
We had a freak warm spell (end of Oct) at the time so I had him out in the sunshine (out on the deck - not through window glass) as much as possible.
Even if she needs the lights - they aren't bad.
The light helps her skin break down bili until her liver becomes more active and takes over handling it.
Hopefully you already have an appointment to see the doctor for her new born appointment.
Even though it is cloudy, the sun is still shining behind the clouds. The sun is just filtered.
My doctor had us keep her in the sunlight naked.
Call you pediatrician and ask what you should do until she goes in for her visit. It is likely they will make time for her same day, being she is a newborn.
It's really normal for this age baby to sleep most of the time. I'd do the light especially while she's asleep. It will help her and she won't even know it's on.
they kept my middle son in the hospital for almost a week under that light because of jaundice. you don't want to mess with that its the liver function that is scary. I would call the drs office. they may have to put your little one back in the hospital. call now dont' wait.
