Fighting Jaundice?

Question

My 2wk old has had jaundice since she was 2 days old. I have had her on the billi blanket at night for 4 nights. However, it is only going down very slowly. I have also alternated formula with breast milk. can anyone tell me something else to try? Doc says not to put her in direct sunlight since they are more prone to sunburn, but, I do put her crib next to the window. Thanks all!

She has indirect jaundice which is caused from an inability to breakdown the breastmilk. That is why I alternate the 2.

Answer 1

My son had it. It was an awful experience. I was stressed and just wanted it to go away.
He was on the blanket for two and a half weeks. I believe it helped him in the long run. He sleeps 14 hours and still does being 2 years old on June 3. Hope my new baby, induced on friday, doesn't experience this.
I did nothing special other than the blanket. I kept him in the house, until the visiting nurses gave me the ok.
Good luck, I was heartbroken. My little baby in such an awkward thing. But it gets better!

Answer 2

"breastmilk jaundice", as it is commonly called, is completely normal and theres typically no need to do anything.

Billirubin has actually been found to be an anti-oxidant.

It goes away on it's own after a few months and does no harm to the baby.

Some info on it:
http://www.kellymom.com/newman/07jaundice.html


I would seriously cut out the formula altogether. Breastmilk is better for her (formula can be hard on the liver because of the high iron levels). The only reason to give formula is if you are not producing enough and that is why she is jaundiced... but it doesn't sound as if thats the problem.

You also don't want her to start refusing the breast.

Answer 3

My son had Jaundice and also used the blanket. He level was over 19 when we got the blanket and it took 2 days for it to stop going up and a week for her levels to go down to I believe it was 9 and then she came off the blanket and I was amazed at how light his skin got. I used the blanket every time he was not in my arms so I suggest that you use it as close to 18 hrs a day as possible. That blanket will be 100% more affective than the sun without the possibility of a burn.

Also the more breast milk over formula the better. Call the lactation consultant at the hospital you gave birth in for any tips or advice re: feeding a Jaundice baby.
Good luck!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 4

take her outside in the sun , be careful about it, a few minutes at a time wont hurt her. My kids are chinese and filipino. and my step daughter has some Hawaiian. they were all jaundiced when they were born ( i was told that it was quite common with oriental children) , we would let them lay on a blanket in the sun for 4 or 5 minutes and then move them into the shade for an hour, and did that for a few hrs a day. it really helped a lot.

Answer 5

Make sure she gets plently of fluids (breastmilk or formula), and take her outside and get some sun. Even if you are in the shade it will still work. The sunlight helps the body break down the bilirubin that is in the body. My now 7 wk old boy had the same problem after i brought him home from the hospitlal. I laid him in the front window while he slept and took him outside.

Answer 6

Jaundice is brought about by potential of potential of too much billiruben in the infants physique. If it is not dealt with they are able to finally end up very ill. (Organ Failure) The billy blanket is an overly accessible take living house contraption. it somewhat is a small blanket with a returned board in it. it somewhat is hooked to a field it somewhat is not any greater advantageous than a medium measurement handbag. It gives you off a blue mushy it fairly is assisting break up the billiruben. As a up factor it is going to in all probability make the child look mushy basically somewhat glow computer virus. yet you are able to desire to confirm that the infants eyes are not uncovered. you are able to by potential of and huge restoration a blanket around that infant basically so it somewhat is not a issue. It by potential of and huge least confusing takes a pair of days to repair. This blanket is used in minor circumstances. If the case became into as quickly as greater advantageous the little you may could desire to be saved in an incubator with slumbering pads on its eyes. So be grateful a blanket is a threat.

Answer 7

i know that you are not supposed to put babies in direct sunlight but from what i know, jaundice is a vitamin d deficiency and the best source of vitamin d is from the sun...

from the day i bought my daughter home from the hospital (a day and half old)...i would put her in the sunlight (not her face, but her naked body) for about 3 minutes twice a day (always setting a time to make sure that it was only three minutes)....she never had jaundice and was never sunburnt...

Answer 8

Is she having plenty of bowel movements? I remember when my daughter was jaundiced, they said that was very important because that's how it gets out of her system. I suppose making sure she is getting plenty to eat is one way to ensure that. And making sure she is not constipated at all.

Other than that, the light/sun is the only other way I have heard to fight it. I hope it subsides soon. I know how frustrating this is. Good luck...

Answer 9

bring her outside, go for walks. being outside is different then being by the window. just take walks to where you are in and out of the sun. you will both enjoy it. good luck

Answer 10

Sunlight and breast milk!