Jaundice

NewMom23

I know that jaundice is normal, but I have to admit it is freaking me out a little bit. Just the thought of anything being wrong with my precious little one scares me.

The day we left the hospital he was tested for jaundice and he tested at 10. They sent me home with a bili blanket, and said to come back the next day for another test. The following day he tested at 16. So we were scheduled to see the doctor this morning, and to have another test. After the WHOLE day in the bili blanket, he tested at 17 this morning. They told me that the 3rd and 4th days are usually the highest, but it still worries me. 

We get to go back tomorrow for another test, and the poor baby is spending his days in the bili blanket. Today we are trying to put him in front of the window as well, hoping this helps a little.

Anyone else dealing with jaundice? 

natasha_l_nesbitt

Are you nursing? If so, nurse a lot. It really helps. GL!!

BabyBurns

We did with DD #1. The lactation consultants pushed so hard for me to exclusively BF even though she had high levels. We ended up taking home the bili blanket for about 3 days. I hated it! Being confined to one part of the living room was just awful. But what you're going through is normal.

When we got home we put her on formula to get her system flushed out more quickly. Meanwhile I began pumping to build up a nice refrigerator stash of breast milk. Once her levels were better we gave her breast milk and I just continued to EP for her first year.

With DD #2 we gave her what I could pump first, then formula. She had no signs of jaundice at all...lesson learned! I hope your little guy can come off of the blanket tomorrow! 

 

alliejoe

I don't really have any advice other than to feed him as much as he'll take- that is the plan of action with Ben right now.  His levels this am when we went in for a check were 14.  They did tell us the numbers usually go up before the go down.

Hang in there- things should improve soon

jeska511

Not really much advice expect BF-ing and taking him/her outside or putting LO in front of the window in the sun. It helped my son alot.

jtosh623

I totally understand your feelings. I went through the same thing with my daughter. Hang in there. She was in the blanket for 6 days. We had to go back and forth to the hospital each day to get her numbers tested. Her numbers also went up before they went down. It also seemed to be an extremely cloudy, rainy week for us so we couldn't put her in the sun. You will get through this... good luck!

NothingLikeBarbie

It is scary! I understand how you feel. My baby didn't have jaundice when we left the hospital, but yesterday and today (days 3 & 4) he got really yellow. On top of that he wasn't eating much yesterday and didn't pee all day. I was really scared.
Today I have been nursing him like crazy (every 1 1/2 - 2 hours) and put him in front of the window twice.

I hope your baby gets better soon, and mine too!

soon to be Mrs. Connolly

I know it is tough and heart breaking. My daughter had jaundice and was on the blanket and under the lights for 3.5 days.  Has your child been under the lights or have htey just had them on the blanket?  The more they eat the quicker it is supposed to leave their system.  The nurses had me feeding my daughter 2 oz of formula on top of giving her whatever I was able to pump.  Hang in their, it will get better.  GL