Parents if you are seeing a yellow tinge on your baby side, please do not worry. Babies with Jaundice is common. On the second day of life, some 60% of newborn infants become jaundiced. Often, jaundice is entirely harmless and will improve within a few weeks. It is produced when a bilirubin, a yellow-orange pigment that is formed by the breakdown of hemoglobin and removed from the bile builds up in the baby´s blood, which causes the jaundice. This is because their livers are too immature to process the bilirubin.
In about nine out of ten infants, the color fades as babies’ feedings and diaper output become better established. When babies with jaundice left unmonitored or untreated can become a serious condition that can damage a baby’s brain. So, while you should not worry if you are seeing yellow, you do need to take jaundice seriously and seek treatment for it.
BABIES WITH JAUNDICE –WHAT IS IT?
Jaundice leads to a yellow skin color among babies which is typically due to the fact there is an increase levels of bilirubin down the baby’s blood. The other name for this condition is hyperbilirubinemia that will cause brain damage when not treated. During pregnancy, the liver excretes bilirubin , a yellow byproduct of red blood cells breakdown, but an immature liver can lead to jaundice in infants.
SIGNS SYMPTOMS OF BABIES WITH JAUNDICE?
The major signs and symptoms are.
- Babies with the jaundice show yellowing under tongue.
- The main symptoms of babies with jaundice are yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.
- As level of bilirubin increases the yellowing may increase up to upper body chest, belly (abdomen), arms and legs.
- One can best see the signs and symptoms on babies’ skin under natural light.
WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR?
Babies with the jaundice should be examined between third and seventh day after birth when bilirubin levels usually peaks.
The following signs or symptoms may indicate severe jaundice or complications from excess bilirubin. Call your doctor if any such signs and symptoms appear that concern you,
- Baby’s skin become more yellow including (eyes, tongue, arms, legs, abdomen)
- Your baby seems sick and difficult to awaken.
- Baby is not gaining weight.
- Not feeding properly.
- Difficult to manage and cry loudly.
- Becomes fussy.
HOW COMMON JAUNDICE IS IN NEWBORNS?
It is a common scenario in kids and is most cases manageable. The figures are in, and these illustrate that up to 60 % of full-term infants (babies born between 39-40 weeks) are affected with jaundice within the first week of their life. And up to 80% of preterm newborns (babies born before 34 weeks) develop jaundice in first week of life, 10% require phototherapy. However, babies with jaundice if taken care well can be cured in no time.
MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT: –
Treatment of jaundice in newborn babies:
Most instances of baby jaundice may not require any clinical treatment. Jaundice usually disappears naturally once your baby’s liver starts working. This may need a week or two. Frequent feedings (10–12 times a day) may promote bowel motions in your infant. This aids in your baby’s body’s removal of extra bilirubin.
Treatment with phototherapy:
In more severe cases, phototherapy, and exposure to a specific spectrum of blue light is necessary. Babies with jaundice when sleep are exposed to this safe and effective light for 24 to 48 hours. The light is absorbed by the skin and breaks down the bilirubin. The lights are not going to hurt your baby, and this treatment usually only goes on for a day or so, if the levels of bilirubin in your baby’s blood are not too high, there is even a chance that you can get light therapy at home.
Treatment with Direct sunlight:
Direct sunlight is not good for your babies because of harmful ultraviolet rays they contain. They can cause sunburn to your baby’s skin. Although in the past babies used to exposed to sunlight but now it is not recommended.
Treatment with Indirect sunlight:
The key steps involve ensuring your newborn gets enough fluids, some exposure to indirect sunlight. Make sure your baby gets plenty of sunlight exposure by placing them near a window for shorter intervals under indirect sunlight. The filtered-sunlight treatment is as safe and effective method. The baby will not get sunburned through a window. And in this way, they get enough sunlight exposure as well.
The recommended duration for keeping your baby under indirect sunlight to treat his/her jaundice is 15-30 minutes twice or thrice a day. But is it important to note that it is not the replacement for more advance treatments like phototherapy. Make sure the room is warm and take off the baby’s clothes except the diaper.
PREVENTION: –
It often happens to babies (especially newborns when it is usually not preventable). Frequent feedings can be extremely helpful in reducing the risk of non-physiological jaundice because it will raise the bowel movements of a baby a lot. Frequent feedings are also good for causing a baby to pass much stool, which will help your baby secrete out the bilirubin.
- Breastfed babies: A mother should feed her baby at least eight to twelve times a day throughout their first week of life.
- Bottle-fed babies: The mother should provide 1 to 2 ounces (30 to 60 milliliters) of formula every 2 to 3 hours for the first week of life. Aim for eight feeds in a 24-hour period.
Before discharge, ensure that the medical personnel measure your infant’s bilirubin levels. After that, a medical appointment is necessary to assess the progression of jaundice in your child by testing the bilirubin level in the blood.