A New Beginning

Screening and Testing for Jaundice

Your Baby’s Hospitalization

Screening for jaundice is painless and involves simply placing a light meter on the baby’s skin. If the bilirubin level is high, a blood test will be done to measure bilirubin levels. The goal of treatment is to reduce the bilirubin in the baby’s body to prevent long-term problems and brain damage. Two treatments can accomplish this goal: feeding the baby more often and phototherapy.

Treating Jaundice

FEEDINGS Breastfeeding is important because it is a natural laxative. Bilirubin is removed through the baby’s bowel movements, so the more breast milk the baby drinks, the more bowel movements they’ll have and

PHOTOTHERAPY Phototherapy treatment involves placing your baby under a special light wearing only a diaper and eye protection.

the jaundice will improve quicker.

Another treatment option involves placing a fiberoptic blanket under your baby. The light and blanket are sometimes used together. Your baby will be undressed so that as much skin as possible is exposed to the lights. Your baby’s eyes are protected by special pads that are placed over them and secured with Velcro to keep them in place. Eye pads must remain over the baby’s eyes whenever the lights are on. Babies under phototherapy treatment will have frequent, loose bowel movements that may be green. These stools are normal as the baby’s body removes the bilirubin. These loose bowel movements should stop when treatment is completed. Bronze baby syndrome is a rare side effect of phototherapy treatment. The baby’s skin and urine look bronze. Although the exact cause is unknown, this is temporary. During phototherapy, your baby’s bilirubin level will be periodically monitored using a small blood sample taken from their heel. The length of phototherapy treatment depends on your baby’s clinical condition but is usually about 1 day. Treatment is stopped as soon as the baby’s bilirubin reaches a safe level. It will be checked again in a couple of hours to make sure it has not risen again. How you can help: • Keep your baby under the phototherapy lights as much as possible. • Make sure that your babies eyes remain covered.

How you can help: • Increase the frequency of breastfeeding from 8 to 12 feedings in 24 hours to 10 to 14 feedings in 24 hours. • Massage your breasts before and during each breastfeeding session. • Hand express a few drops of breast milk onto your nipple prior to each feeding to encourage your baby to latch. • Pump after feedings and offer your expressed breast milk to your baby to increase their amount for that feeding. Based on your baby’s clinical condition, their health care provider may prescribe the addition of formula to increase their feeding intake and hydration. A lactation specialist will also meet with you to provide recommendations.

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Chapter 6: Your Baby’s Hospitalization