Babies and Jaundice, what is it and how you can help
Jaundice is a yellow color that can be seen in the skin, mucous membranes, or eyes. When red blood cells break down, bilirubin is released into the bloodstream. Jaundice is caused by a build-up of bilirubin in the blood. The liver changes bilirubin so that it can leave the body. Jaundice is very common in newborn babies. It is usually easy to spot because the baby's skin and whites of the eyes turn a yellow color. Babies become jaundiced when they have too much bilirubin in their blood. Jaundice usually is not a problem. But in rare cases, too much bilirubin in the blood can cause brain damage. This can lead to hearing loss, mental retardation, and behavior problems.
Causes:
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Symptoms:
- Color of your baby's skin changes to yellow, it shows up first in the baby's face and chest.
- Baby's eyes and the pink skin inside your baby's mouth get yellowish.
- Baby has pale skin, it should look white when you gently press it with your fingertips.
- You may see the yellow color between 1 and 4 days after birth.
Precautions:
- Breastfeed as soon as possible after birth.
- Watch your baby and respond to your baby's feeding cues by offering the breast frequently during the first few days of life. This will help your baby pass the meconium stool more quickly.
- Breastfeed every 2 - 3 hours. Avoid giving water and glucose feedings your baby needs caloric intake.
- Monitor your baby's passing of urine and bowel movements.
- Place your baby near natural light since natural light breaks down bilirubin.
- Check your baby for jaundice. If unsure, be sure to ask your health care provider.
A baby who is not eating, wetting, or stooling well in the first few days of life is more likely to get jaundice. Sibling with jaundice A baby with a sister or brother that had jaundice is more likely to develop jaundice.
Treatment: Most of the time no treatment is needed for jaundice, because it usually goes away on its own by regular breastfeeding.
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Phototherapy: In this process baby's skin is exposed to fluorescent light. The skin absorbs the light. This changes the bilirubin so that the body can more easily get rid of it in the stool and urine. The baby's eyes are protected from the light by eye patches. With phototherapy, the baby may have skin rashes or loose bowel movements. He may need to take in extra fluids (such as more frequent breastfeeding). Phototherapy is safe.
- In severe cases, the baby may need to be given fluids into his veins with a needle or through a blood transfusion.
Jaundice lasts for a different time in different babies. Often, the bilirubin level goes up for the first 3 to 4 days and then slowly goes back down. A baby who is breastfed may have mild jaundice for a longer time than a baby who is formula-fed.
Babies with any of the following risk factors need close monitoring and early jaundice management:
- Preterm babies born before 37 weeks' gestation;
- Babies who weigh less than 2500 g at birth;
- Babies whose blood group is incompatible with their mothers' blood group;
- Babies who develop jaundice early in life, especially during the first 24 h;
- Babies whose jaundice has moved into the arms and legs;
- Babies who have an infection;
- Babies who have bruises and a difficult delivery (for example, where forceps have to be used).
- Babies whose siblings had jaundice at birth and needed treatment.
So if your baby's skin is yellow, see your baby's doctor right away. The doctor will take a small amount of your baby's blood and measure the bilirubin in it. And don't forget the best way to save your baby from jaundice is regular breastfeeding, if you can.
(Sources: healthunit.com, pediatrics.about.com, cps.ca, bchealthguide.org, familydoctor.org)
