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Baby turning yellow ?
It could most likely be a jaundice condition.
This is a very common condition for Asian babies. The condition usually will resolve by itself but monitoring your baby is important to ensure that the condition does not worsen.
Jaundice is a result of a high level of chemical called bilirubin in the blood and this is the cause for the yellowing of the skin. Symptoms also includes yellowing of the whites of the eye, palm as well as soles. It will take a while for a baby's liver to break down bilirubin. For more serious cases that persist for more than 2 weeks, it is highly recommended to seek treatment and further test.
Here are some tips for treatment of this condition.
While there are many myths to the kind of treatment that can help your baby, its always recommended to seek the advice of your pediatrician beforehand.
One of the treatment method that is very common is exposure to sunlight. Sunlight can help to breakdown the bilirubin. However, placing your baby under direct sunlight may prove to be harmful instead. There are little known benefits to using this method as the suitable sunlight condition is best only between 7-8am.
A more effective method is phototherapy treatment which involves placing your baby on a sunbed with bright fluorescent lights for a period of time. This method has been proven to be very effective and is typically treated while in the hospital.
So, are there any other ways that you can help your baby while you are at home?
The answer is a definite yes. Here are some tips for you.
1) Try feeding your baby on demand. This is to help your baby to excrete more and to flush her system.
2) Try placing her in sunlight in the early hours – preferably between 7-8am, when the sun light is not that strong yet. Though there are little benefits in comparison with phototherapy, it does help slightly for mild jaundice conditions.
3) Breastfeed as much as possible.
It is highly recommended that a pediatrician be consulted first before any of the above tips are applied. Its best to consult a professional before trying any methods.
Hopefully the above tips will help you as a new parent with a baby who has this condition. Starting a life’s journey with a newborn can be both exciting as well as challenging. Attending parenting classes to equip you with the challenges ahead will always help. Meanwhile, do take time to enjoy this beautiful moment with your newborn.
1 comment:
In my over 10 years' experience as a short-term live-in and night nanny for newborns, I can say that this condition is certainly not restricted to Asian babies. It's a fairly common condition in Caucasian preemies, and in some full-term babies. In my experience, the hospital will not release babies who have a high level or borderline high level of jaundice until it has gone down. Listen to the number that they give you describing the level. If it's under 10, in my experience, there's not likely to be a problem; but ask your pediatrician if you're concerned about it. If it's in the mid-teens, you probably will be advised as to what measures to take after your baby is taken home. The level is very likely to rise somewhat after the baby's birth before it begins to go down.
The treatments for jaundice vary, depending on the level of jaundice. The ones mentioned in this post are the ones with which I am familiar. -- Please note that exposing your baby to sunlight does not mean outside in the bright sun with no clothes on; obviously, you would end up with a sunburned baby! The pediatricians of the babies I have worked with have suggested undressing the baby down to its diaper, and placing the baby in the sunlight coming from a window...again taking into consideration how bright that light is and whether or not the baby will become sunburned from the light coming through the window glass. This is one of the two most common treatments I have heard recommended by pediatricians; but I actually have heard one pediatrician say that it really did no good, because the type of lighting needed to reduce the level was a different type. So, does it work? Ask your pediatrician.
The other of the two most common treatments I have heard is breastmilk...whether coming directly from the mother, or from a bottle. Breastmilk seems to be a "magic cure-all" for many things!
The third method of treatment is exposure to light treatments. One baby I worked with was sent home with a little light bed and home health to check on him. Mostly, though, the light treatments now are done with a special blanket. Again, the hospital and your pediatrician will let you know if this is appropriate for your baby.
Usually, cases of mild jaundice disappear fairly quickly after the levels rise, and the baby just "outgrows" it; the pediatrician will be checking your baby until he/she feels it is not a problem.
So, although severe jaundice could cause problems to your child, there are treatments for it, and the levels are tested before and after your baby leaves the hospital. Most babies who have jaundice have a slight case of it, and will have no problems from it after leaving the hospital. -- Again, always ask your pediatrician if you have concerns! That's what they're there for, and they expect calls from new parents.
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