jaundice in a baby.?

Question

what is jaundice and how will affect my daughter?

Answer 1

MY SON HAD JAUNDICE WHEN HE WAS BORN. IT IS NOTHING TO REALLY WORRY ABOUT UNLESS IT GOES UP. THET TREAT IT WITH SPECIAL LIGHTS BUT IN MY SON'S CASE THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT. THEY KEPT CHECKING HIS BLOOD UNTIL IT GOT DOWN TO A SAFE LEVEL. I WAS SO GLAD THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE TO BE ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL CAUSE WE BOTH HAD JUST GOTTEN OUT OF THE HOSPITAL.

When the color of baby's skin appears yellow, we say the baby is jaundiced. Jaundice in newborns is common and in the majority of instances, the condition is harmless and temporary.
The yellow color on the baby's skin is caused by an excess amount of bilirubin; a substance produced by the natural breakdown of red blood cells. In a baby, the liver, which processes bilirubin and excretes it from the body, is not as mature as it is in an adult, so it takes a little longer for a baby to get rid of its bilirubin.

Jaundice usually appears around the second or third day of life. It begins at the head and progresses downward. This is something you can watch for at home. If your baby appears Jaundiced while you are still in the hospital, a blood test may be taken to determine the amount of bilirubin present. In most cases, bilirubin causes no problem and by 5 to 7 days of age, the baby will take care of all the excess bilirubin on its own. In other cases, where the baby is slower to rid the body of the excess bilirubin, the baby will receive treatment (ultraviolet light) to speed the removal process. If, when you get home, you notice that your baby's head and chest are yellow (the whites of the eyes get yellow too), phone your baby's doctor and he will have you bring your baby in to be tested. If the amount of bilirubin is high, your baby may be readmitted to the hospital for treatment

Answer 2

There are several different types of jaundice. Most often, a baby will have normal (physiological) jaundice; this is the kind that starts when the baby is 2-3 days old. It is caused by the baby's breaking down extra blood cells that were needed prenatally but aren't after birth. Unless the bilirubin count (an indication of the severity of the jaundice) is above 20, a baby needs no treatment. Do the research now, and you'll see that this is true; then if your baby *does* have it, you'll know what you want to do about it.

If the jaundice only starts when the baby is 5 days old or older (or if normal jaundice is going away, and it starts again), then this is breastfeeding jaundice. There is no evidence that this will hurt any baby, so, again, no treatment is needed.

The reason it is important to know when jaundice is normal or not is that the most common treatments ("bili lights" for physiological jaundice and weaning for breastfeeding jaundice) are pretty high-risk for the baby. Bili lights can cause dehydration and sleepiness in the baby; the baby will then nurse *less* and get more severely jaundiced. This can lead to weaning. Weaning, too, (even if *temporary*) exposes a baby to all the risks of artificial feeding, including allergies, asthma, SIDS, diabetes, cancer, etc. Some of these risks are life long.

The reason doctors overreach to normal types of jaundice is that *abnormal* jaundice does have the potential to harm a baby. If the jaundice starts on the first day of life, it is usually caused by a blood incompatibility or other serious problem. If it is caused by an ABO incompatibility, the baby will usually recover with little or no treatment, but if it is caused by an Rh incompatitility, it can be very serious and require treatment up to and including blood transfusion.

Even with the most severe abnormal jaundice, babies almost always survive unscathed today. But it can be really scary going through the treatments until the baby is over it.

Answer 3

Jaundice is something when bile collects in the liver. This raises billy-rubin (phonetically spelled) levels and causes the skin to turn a beautiful shade of yellow-orange.

My daughter had jaundice and she looked as if she just returned from a beach vacation. She's now a year old and VERY smart and healthy.

One thing you can do if you're breast feeding, take her outside for about 10 min or so every couple of hours. The uva/uvb from the sunlight helps break down the chemicals in her body a little quicker.

If you're formula feeding try to feed every couple of hours as much as she'll take....but don't force anything. Outside will also help.

Generally jaundice goes away on it's own. When it's gone, it's gone. No need to worry.

If the levels spike or continue to rise the dr will give you a wrap or a baby bed with a light attached.....this should make it go away.

Answer 4

I see a lot of people have answered your question about what is jaundice. My daughter was jaundice. Being a new Mom I was worried. It is very common. My daughter had to stay in the hospital an extra day and we were sent home with a Bilirubin blanket which is a blanket that emits UV light. I had to take her to the hospital every few days where they pricked her heel to test her bilirubin levels. They never were sky high (over 20). Your daughter will be fine just follow the Dr's orders. She is now 9 months old and super healthy. I can totally relate to you being concerned, again she will be fine and it won't affect her in the long run.

Answer 5

Jaundice is a build up of red blood cells in the blood stream, its common in new babies especially prem as the liver is immature. The jaundice usually makes them sleepy and sometimes feel a little unwell but is easily treatable if the levels are high. Often it resolves itself if its mild and most mums are told to Put babies pram or cot near a window.

Answer 6

Jaundice is a potentially serious condition in which your child is having trouble taking excess bilirubin out of his blood. This results in yellowing of the skin and eyes. It can result in death. Sunlight help and UV light helps process bilirubin. If you are concerned about Jaundice you should talk to your doctor. The treatment is reasonably simple.

Note: Two of my children had jaundice as babies, we put them near the window and watched them closely to see if they became more yellow. Luckily neither did. They are healthy and as normal as one of my children could ever be.

Answer 7

Two days after my son was born he showed signs of jaundice (it's a bit normal) he was placed under the UV light for a couple of hours until his skin was not yellow and they did blood tests and all was ok, he's almost 15 months now and is in great health.

Answer 8

My daughter had it dont worry she will be fine Congratulations arent you the guys that are adopting also?

It is just a yellowing of the skin it will go may take a few weeks thats all. Its worrying being a new mum isnt it just get lots of rest your midwife will tell you about the jaundice and how to get rid of it.

I hope all is going ok for you good luck with it all x

Answer 9

newborns get jaundice from the new environment they have come into, apparantly 90% babies get it at birth, my daughter had it. its not as dangerous as the water borne one older people get but the bilirubin count must start dropping from the second day, or doctors medicate the baby, if your daughter is older then its from water or a jaundice patient, that treatment is different. dont worry though, medicines can handle it either way.

Answer 10

A somewhat common condition in newborn babies, marked by a yellowing of the skin and caused by the immature liver's inability to process excess red blood cells this creates too much bilirubin in the blood. Treatment for mild cases will include allowing your baby to spend time in sunlight, though in more severe cases, the baby will be admitted to the hospital and placed under lights which synthesize the sun's rays (minus harmful UV radiation).

Red blood cells are constantly being broken down by the spleen. Bilirubin is one of the breakdown products of haemoglobin and is carried to the liver to be excreted in the bile. It is the raised level of bilirubin in the blood that gives the yellow colour seen in jaundice.