Bilirubin issues.....?

Question

Can you explain why babies with jaundice & problems with bilirubin levels are put under lights? My niece was born a few days ago very premature, but doing well except that she's 'under the lights' most of the time. How long do they do this for? Also --- the NICU uses a plastic sheet over her to keep her body temp more steady, how long does that last? She's 2 lbs 2 oz and her oxygen is good, and they say all signs are that she's doing very well all things considered... but just curious. Thanks!

Answer 1

the lights help break up the bile that is made by the liver that is not functioning propperly quite yet. my baby was born 5 days over due and had HIGH levels of bilirubin. her eyes were yellow all the way down to her legs was yellow. her bilirubin count was 14.3. the level they need to go under the lights is 15. The lights help kick the liver into proper action. and as for the sheet, its a thermal sheet designed too keep the baby warm since her tiny little body cant control that especially since shes premature. hope all goes well. im sure your neice will be just fine. CONGRATS by the way... my neice is 18 months and my daughter is 4 months old.its fun to have little girls.

Answer 2

I have a 2 1/2 month old son who was 1 month early. He weighed 4 lbs. 12 oz. when we brought him home. He also had issues with bilirubin. What I learned is that a baby's bilirubin level actually rises over about 4-5 days and then begins to drop. This is true of normal term infants. However, if the bilirubin is excessively high when first drawn, you can expect it will continue to rise for the next 4-5 days. The photo therapy lights help to eliminate the bilirubin. It is eliminated through both urine and feces. My son had excessive diarrhea, which is expected, but hard on a newborn's fragile skin. My son had a diaper rash so bad it was bleeding. I was also encouraged to breast feed as much as possible due to the fact that the bilirubin is excreted through the urine and feces. Best of luck to your niece!

Answer 3

My son had to be put under the lights because his bilirubin was low... it lasted about 3 days....pretty much she will need to stay under the lights until the new natologists feel she can function well on her own. If she is 2 lbs 2 oz....she will probably be on and off for the next 2 or 3 months. But if she is doing well and is healthy, that is all that matters. The Dr.'s just want to make sure she stays that way until she is strong enough to be able to do it on her own and when she goes home.

Answer 4

I heard that the light helps to break down the excess bilirubin so that it can then be urinated out. How long treatment lasts depends up on the severity of the problem. At 2 lbs. 2 oz. (what a tiny little one!) a preemie might have to remain in an isolet until it can keep it's body temperature up on it's own. You'd have to ask the doctors how long though. Best wishes to your niece.

Answer 5

Jaundice is when there's discoloration of the skin and the sclera part of the eye, which occurs when bilirubin accumulates in the blood at a level greater than approximately 2.5 mg/dl. The lights are used in a process called phototherapy and it gets rid of the excess bilirubin.

It's usually gone by the first week, but sometimes it lasts longer and then the baby needs extra care to help their jaundice.

Answer 6

The lights stimulating her skin actually helps her body to process the Bilirubin through her kidneys (excrete through urine) in addition to being broken down in the liver.

Babies and especially premies usually have immature livers, so a lot of times it is hard for them to process Bilirubin, which is a natural component of the breakdown of red blood cells (babies don't need as many red blood cells once they are born and separated from the placenta, so their bodies naturally start breaking them down to the proper level).

This is very common in newborns. The lights will help, and it shouldn't be a problem in and of itself.

Answer 7

i have billrubin 2.3 but on LFT test There is no problem and no kind of viral hepatitis what i can do to decrease billrubin