There are several things you can you do if your baby develops jaundice once you come home from the hospital.
First, make sure your baby is getting enough fluid, which helps to flush the bilirubin from your baby’s body. Feed your baby every 2-3 hours. You may even need to wake your baby if they are not waking this often to eat. A baby shows they are hungry by making sucking noises; sucking on their hand, fingers or blanket; becoming more restless, crying is a late sing of hunger. If you’re a breastfeeding Mom, you should breastfeed your jaundiced baby every two to three hours, with at least 20 to 30 minutes of active sucking and swallowing. Listen for the “kaa” sound as your baby swallows.
This frequent feeding not only provides good nutrition, but prevents dehydration, which can worsen the effects of jaundice. Check that you baby is having at least 6-10 wet diapers a day and at least 3 or more soild diapers a day once they are 3 days old. This gets rid of meconium, which is high in bilirubin.
Contact your health care provider if your baby has any of the signs of jaundice.
At one time, parents were told to place their baby in front of a window on a sunny day, this practice is no longer recommended. Treatment of jaundice depends on the results of a routine blood test. Blood is taken from your baby’s heel and analyzed to determine the type and severity of jaundice. In most cases, jaundice goes away without any treatment within 1 to 2 weeks. Some babies with severe jaundice may need treatment with ultraviolet light or a blood transfusion.
If at any point, you become concerned about your baby’s health, don’t hesitate to:
- Contact your healthcare provider during regular office hours.
- Call your local public health nurse.
- Visit the after-hours clinic.
- Go to the hospital emergency department.
Treatment of jaundice depends on the results of a routine blood test. Blood is taken from your baby’s heel and analyzed to determine the type and severity of jaundice. In most cases, jaundice goes away without any treatment within 1 to 2 weeks.