Elevated direct bilirubin levels

melanier26

Hi everyone,

My LO was born 3 weeks ago and at 3 days old was admitted to the NICU for dehydration, hypoglycemia and jaundice. After 5 days we were released because he was doing well with one exception - an elevated direct bilirubin level. This is NOT the level that babies are put under lights for. As of now we are having blood work done every 2 weeks to monitor the level and so far it has been going up very slightly.

They're not concerned with how fast the level is rising (because it's only slowly increasing) but they are concerned because it needs to go on a downward trend and that's not happening. They are saying that sometimes it corrects itself, but sometimes it could be a sign of something more serious. He's been tested for lots of things and so far we have no answers.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Even if not, prayers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

CaliforniaDream87

No experience but many TnP's for baby!

CarelessDiva89

No experience either. T&p's for baby.

mimigrace12

Sorry no experience, but thinking of you and LO, hoping everything is alright!

jgorley2015

No experience, but my baby had a positive Coombs test when she was born.

Working in the lab, I do know that levels can rise until they "peak," and then they start dropping. Like you said, the rate at which it rises is concerning, so if it's rising slowly, things should be okay soon.

Have you received the results of the first PKU yet? Maybe that'll give you some answers.

Miz_Liz

No experience but sending T&P your way!

kjandericka

No experience but T&P for y'all!

carleym93

T&Ps for you and baby!

toccoaparker

T&P for baby! what are the levels? My LO is at 14.3 and is having to do the at home treatments with not much progress :-S

acgonzalez22

Tnp's! My LO's levels were high until the peak, then gradually decreased. I hope you get answers.

laylababe3

T&P's for your LO!!

chelsdeann26

Not the same situation but my son was put under the lights the day after he was born for one night and we were sent home.. he wasn't yellow or anything at that point and by the next evening he was very yellow and I had to take him to the er.. he was admitted and had to stay under the lights for 24 hours. They ran many tests because having to go under the lights more than once is very rare I was told. And his levels were very high. . It turned out he had an antibody D. Even after we were released it took several days for his color to become normal and him to poop out all the bilirubin out. Sunlight and eating is what helps them though! GL

SashaDenn25

Will be praying for your little one!!

schneiderlauren

My one week old also had elevated bilirubin levels, though she is responding to phototherapy. I made an apmt with a pediatric hematologist and he ran extra tests, and talked about the possibility of spherocitosis (HS), a very manageable blood disorder that can affect bilirubin levels. The course of treatment is the same, but there are extra things to monitor. I would suggest finding a pediatric hematologist. Hope that helps!

ChanelLovesB

Praying with you!

kedbach

Baby will be fine! Mallory was in NICU for 5 days with a brachial plexus injury but also monitoring blood sugars and she had a touch of jaundice. She was under the UV lights for a few hours a day for two days then upon recheck, despite being elevated, it wasn't high enough to keep her on them and we were discharged. The pediatrician did blood work two days later to re-check and again, levels were slightly elevated but still within the normal range so no action was needed. He said the bilirubin is actually necessary for them to have, they just don't want tooooo much. If baby wasn't at a high enough level to need the UV lights, I'd say you probably have nothing to worry about. Then again, I'm not a doctor, but just sharing my person experience with it! Good luck to you and baby!!