If your baby has jaundice can you have adults and children visit it after it is a month old?

Answer 1

I don't know of any reason the baby can't be visited *while* it's jaundiced, let alone for a month afterward. Jaundice isn't contagious, nor does it somehow suppress the baby's own immune system. It's a common problem with processing bilirubin, which is a by-product of the break-down of red blood cells.

The baby is stocked up on red blood cells in utero, because they are the oxygen carriers in the bloodstream, and the fetus gets all of its oxygen through the blood before it begins breathing air outside the womb. Once it is born and begins breathing, all of those excess red blood cells start to break down because now they are obsolete (at least in such great quantity). The break-down produces bilirubin, which can only be passed in the stools. Newborns aren't very proficient at stooling during the first few days, therefore many of them have high levels of bilirubin still backed up in their liver and/or bowels, re-absorbing into their system and causing the traditional yellowing we know as "jaundice".

Jaundice can cause sleepiness, and sometimes trouble feeding (often related to the sleepiness). If the bilirubin levels get too high, it can cause serious problems such as brain damage, but in general, a few hours per day under the bili-lights, or in normal sunlight (if the levels aren't too high and the baby can go home), will help to break down the bilirubin. Frequent feeding if you are breastfeeding will help the baby pass more stools, since colostrum (the early concentrated milk produced the first several days after the birth) is a natural laxative. If you're using formula, the dr. will recommend something to assist with the stooling in most cases.

Unless the baby is severely compromised by extremely high bilirubin levels, I can't understand why they would need to be kept away from people for any length of time, during or after treatment. ????

Answer 2

My son had jaundice pretty bad. He was in the hospital I believe 7 or so days. He is now a bubbly thriving 5 1/2 month old. I worried soooo bad about him having jaundice, but trust me it is very very common. Half of babies born seem to have it. It is not contagious. If you are really worried about it and worry about it getting higher. I would take him/her to the Dr. tommorrow and have is billy rubin levels checked. However I really think you have nothing to worry about. The Doctor wouldnt let your newborn leave the hospital unless his billy rubin was stable. Just make sure your little one is eating very often. Feed he or she several times a night and during the day. The more your baby poops and pees the more the billy rubin will be flushed out of their little system. If your family does come to visit, the jaundice wont be an issue. And by a month the jaundice should all be cleared out of thier system anyways. I would just make sure your family washes their hands very well before touching your little one. Only because their immune systems are so weak and cant take alot of germs-bacteria yet. Your baby will be just fine. Take it from me, a mommy whos son was jaundiced. God bless and take care of your little one.

Answer 3

You don't need to wait a month for people to see it. Jaundice is not contagious!! 2 of my sisters kids had it. Put the baby by the window in the sun it helps clear up the jaundice. Don't let alot of people hold the baby because he/she will get sore and cranky.

Answer 4

Jaundice is not contagious. My granddaughter was jaundiced. Our Doc had us put her in the sun for a couple of hours every day. He also said to force her to nurse, even if we had to wake her up because the pooping and peeing would help to get rid of the bilirubens. That didn't help so they gave my daughter a biliruben light to put on her. She is now 3 weeks old and very pink and pretty. It took a little over a week for the yellow to go away.

Answer 5

It would be fine. Jaundice is not contagious at all. My first son had it really bad when he was born and we had to take him in for blood work every day for a week. We just kept him in the sun for a while, but also we had to get a bili case from home health to put him in. It looked almost like a briefcase with the sides up with little goggles to put on him. My second son was a little yellow when he was born and our home has skylights that I just set him under them in his carseat and cleared up right away. Please be sure though to take your baby to the Dr if the whites of the eyes start turning yellow.

Answer 6

i don't see why not. When my second was born I had to keep taking her in for blood work. She was fine after a week or so. Jaundice isn't catchy. It has to do w/ the baby's blood. She has a big sister and that never afected her. If you're scared call your pediatrian. Also my sister had it when she was born. My mom said she had to put her in the sun. I'm sure she didn't have any restrictions on who could and could see the baby.

Answer 7

Are you not letting them visit now? My daughter was slightly jaundice the whole time we were in the hospital. Put the baby by the window and let him or her absorb some sunshine. I don't see what the problem would be to let people visit.

Answer 8

1 year

Answer 9

Jaundice is caused by the baby having too much blood to brake down and not being able to keep up with it. It's not contiguous at all.It's easily curable just keep the baby exposed to sunlight.If the level gets beyond 18 they put them under the uv lights.

Answer 10

jaundice is not contagious...you may want to keep the excitement limited and keep your baby well rested but having friends and family visit is not a bad thing.