[Avasean]

Hey. I had my baby girl! Her name is Katy Jo Cheyenne. She was born April 22, 2009 at 11:52pm. She weighed 6lbs 6oz & was 20 inches long. She is the perfect baby & is SSSOOO beautiful!

There has only been one concern since she was born... she is slightly jaundiced. Would it benefit her to be in the sunlight for a while? We have her playard in the window and have been letting her lie in the sunlight for an hour or so at a time. She seems to really like it. She had her bilirubin level checked Friday (April 24th) and it was up to 11.7... Saturday morning (after being under the phototherapy lights all night) it was down to 9.4. It was checked again on Monday (April 27th) and the doctor said it was elevated. We had it checked AGAIN yesterday, and it was back down to 9.4!

The doctor says that's good, but should we continue to let her lie in the sunlight? Would it help? What is the normal level of bilirubin in a newborn?

[Krazi]

Ok, here is the full layout from each site I took the snippets from





http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/53275.htm

Question:
My 3 day old grandson is somewhat jaundiced.

His bilirubin level is 12.1 yesterday it was 12.3. Can you please tell me what the normal or safe level of bilirubin is?


Answer:
Whether a bilirubin level is considered normal or not depends on how many hours old the baby is, whether the baby was born early or on-time, and whether the baby is sick or well. In general, babies born early and those who are ill have treatment for lower bilirubin levels than do full term babies because no one knows what a "safe" bilirubin level is for a preterm or ill infant. Also, if the baby's bilirubin rises quickly in the first 24-48 hours of life, it is more likely due to a problematic red cell destruction process that requires early treatment, for example, if the mother and the baby's blood types do not match.

For healthy, full term babies 72 hours of age, doctors expect to see a bilirubin level under if all is going well with feeding and there is no excessive destruction of red blood cells. Jaundice or yellowness is the result of a normal process of red cell destruction that all babies have. Before birth, the baby's body makes a large number of red blood cells with specialized fetal hemoglobin to carry all of the oxygen possible from the mother's placenta to the baby to fuel good growth. However, after birth, the baby no longer needs this high number of red blood cells or the specialized hemoglobin, so the baby's body gets rid of some of these red cells.

The discarded red blood cells go to the baby's liver for processing and the bilirubin part of the red blood cell goes into the bile and then into the baby's stool and out into the diaper. However, because the new baby's liver is not functioning at full ability and the baby is not eating large amounts of food to produce a lot of stool, the bilirubin level increases and causes the skin and white of the baby's eyes to appear yellow.

This normal type of jaundice peaks between 3 and 5 days of age. Even though this is an expected red blood cell destruction process, levels of 15 and above can lead to problems with hearing and development, so they need to be treated with phototherapy, either at home or in the hospital, depending on how high it is and the resources available in the family's community.

Jaundice due to unhealthy disease processes peaks in the first 1-2 days of life. These babies must stay in the hospital for treatment. There is also a type of jaundice that peaks after 7-10 days of age and lasts a long time that occurs in breastfed babies. This type of jaundice called breastmilk jaundice is not well understood but has not been known to cause problems for the baby.

Based on the timing of the jaundice's appearance in your grandson, it seems likely that it is the expected newborn jaundice. His doctor will make sure he is eating well to aid the process of getting rid of the bilirubin in his stool and that the level is beginning to decline. Should it continue to rise, he or she will likely order phototherapy treatment.

I hope this information is helpful. Congratulations on your new grandchild! Enjoy him!



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http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnan.../jaundice.html
•Types of Jaundice•Symptoms and Diagnosis•When to Call the Doctor•Treatments
A common condition in newborns, jaundice refers to the yellow color of the skin and whites of the eyes caused by excess bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is produced by the normal breakdown of red blood cells.

Normally, bilirubin passes through the liver and is excreted as bile through the intestines. Jaundice occurs when bilirubin builds up faster than a newborn's liver can break it down and pass it from the body. Reasons for this include:

•Newborns make more bilirubin than adults do since they have more turnover of red blood cells.
•A newborn baby's still-developing liver may not yet be able to remove adequate bilirubin from the blood.
•Too large an amount of bilirubin is reabsorbed from the intestines before the baby gets rid of it in the stool.
High levels of bilirubin — usually above 25 mg — can cause deafness, cerebral palsy, or other forms of brain damage in some babies. In less common cases, jaundice may indicate the presence of another condition, such as an infection or a thyroid problem. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all infants should be examined for jaundice within a few days of birth.

Types of Jaundice
The most common types of jaundice are:

Physiological (normal) jaundice: occurring in most newborns, this mild jaundice is due to the immaturity of the baby's liver, which leads to a slow processing of bilirubin. It generally appears at 2 to 4 days of age and disappears by 1 to 2 weeks of age.

Jaundice of prematurity: occurs frequently in premature babies since they are even less ready to excrete bilirubin effectively. Jaundice in premature babies needs to be treated at a lower bilirubin level than in full term babies in order to avoid complications.

Breastfeeding jaundice: jaundice can occur when a breastfeeding baby is not getting enough breast milk because of difficulty with breastfeeding or because the mother's milk isn't in yet. This is not caused by a problem with the breast milk itself, but by the baby not getting enough to drink.

Breast milk jaundice: in 1% to 2% of breastfed babies, jaundice may be caused by substances produced in their mother's breast milk that can cause the bilirubin level to rise. These can prevent the excretion of bilirubin through the intestines. It starts after the first 3 to 5 days and slowly improves over 3 to 12 weeks.

Blood group incompatibility (Rh or ABO problems): if a baby has a different blood type than the mother, the mother might produce antibodies that destroy the infant's red blood cells. This creates a sudden buildup of bilirubin in the baby's blood. Incompatibility jaundice can begin as early as the first day of life. Rh problems once caused the most severe form of jaundice, but now can be prevented with an injection of Rh immune globulin to the mother within 72 hours after delivery, which prevents her from forming antibodies that might endanger any subsequent babies.

Symptoms and Diagnosis
Jaundice usually appears around the second or third day of life. It begins at the head and progresses downward. A jaundiced baby's skin will usually appear yellow first on the face, followed by the chest and stomach, and finally, the legs. It can also cause the whites of an infant's eyes to appear yellow.

Since many babies are now released from the hospital at 1 or 2 days of life, it is best for the baby to be seen by a doctor within 1 to 2 days of leaving the hospital to check for jaundice. Parents should also keep an eye on their infants to detect jaundice.

If you notice your baby's skin or eyes looking yellow you should contact your child's doctor to see if significant jaundice is present.

At the doctor's office, a small sample of your infant's blood can be tested to measure the bilirubin level. Some offices use a light meter to get an approximate measurement, and then if it is high, check a blood sample. The seriousness of the jaundice will vary based on how many hours old your child is and the presence of other medical conditions.

When to Call the Doctor
Your doctor should be called immediately if:

•jaundice is noted during the first 24 hours of life
•the jaundice is spreading or getting more intense
•your baby develops a fever over 100° Fahrenheit (37.8° Celsius) rectally
•if your child starts to look or act sick
Also call the doctor right away if the color deepens, your baby is not feeding well, or if you feel your baby is sleepier than usual. It is difficult to tell how significant jaundice is just by looking at a baby, so any baby who has yellow eyes or skin should be checked by the doctor.

Treatments
In mild or moderate levels of jaundice, by 1 to 2 weeks of age the baby will take care of the excess bilirubin on its own. For high levels of jaundice, phototherapy — treatment with a special light that helps rid the body of the bilirubin by altering it or making it easier for your baby's liver to get rid of it — may be used.


More frequent feedings of breast milk or supplementing with formula to help infants pass the bilirubin in their stools may also be recommended. In rare cases, a blood exchange may be required to give a baby fresh blood and remove the bilirubin.

If your baby develops jaundice that seems to be from breast milk, your doctor may ask you to temporarily stop breastfeeding. During this time, you can pump your breasts so you can keep producing breast milk and you can start nursing again once the condition has cleared.

If the amount of bilirubin is high, your baby may be readmitted to the hospital for treatment. Once the bilirubin level drops and the treatment is stopped, it is unlikely that treatment for jaundice will need to be restarted.

Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: June 2008
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[Wondergirl]

I don't believe sunlight, especially coming through glass, would make any difference with jaundice. Jaundice requires a special light.

[J_9]

Actually sunlight works wonders if the bili levels aren't too high. We frequently send babies home with orders to stay in the sunlight, even through glass. Sorry WG.

Bili levels as high as your baby's does warrant a bili light or a bili blanket. Bili levels have to be watched very carefully.

9.4 is acceptable, but is still a little high and should be watched carefully.

Oh, yeah. CONGRATS!!

Krazy, please quote your sources.

[lighterrr]

Hey. I had my baby girl! Her name is Katy Jo Cheyenne. She was born April 22, 2009 at 11:52pm. She weighed 6lbs 6oz & was 20 inches long. She is the perfect baby & is SSSOOO beautiful!

There has only been one concern since she was born...she is slightly jaundiced. Would it benefit her to be in the sunlight for a while? We have her playard in the window and have been letting her lie in the sunlight for an hour or so at a time. She seems to really like it. She had her bilirubin level checked Friday (April 24th) and it was up to 11.7...Saturday morning (after being under the phototherapy lights all night) it was down to 9.4. It was checked again on Monday (April 27th) and the doctor said it was elevated. We had it checked AGAIN yesterday, and it was back down to 9.4!

The doctor says that's good, but should we continue to let her lie in the sunlight? Would it help? What is the normal level of bilirubin in a newborn?

Bilirubin - [Medical Test]

Normal values in newborns

Normal values in newborns depend on the age of the baby in hours and whether the baby was premature or full term. Normal values may vary from lab to lab.

Total bilirubin levels in newborns less than 7 days old
Age Premature baby Full-term baby
Less than 24 hours

Less than 8.0 mg/dL or less than 137 mmol/L

Less than 6.0 mg/dL or less than 103 mmol/L

Less than 48 hours

Less than 12.0 mg/dL or less than 205 mmol/L

Less than 10.0 mg/dL or less than 170 mmol/L

3 to 5 days

Less than 15.0 mg/dL or less than 256 mmol/L

Less than 12.0 mg/dL or less than 205 mmol/L

7 days or older

Less than 15.0 mg/dL or less than 256 mmol/L

Less than 10.0 mg/dL or less than 170 mmol/L



Bilirubin levels that may require treatment in a full-term, healthy baby
Baby's age Bilirubin level
24 hours or younger:

More than 10 mg/dL or more than 170 mmol/L

25 to 48 hours:

More than 15 mg/dL or more than 255 mmol/L

49 to 72 hours:

More than 18 mg/dL or more than 305 mmol/L

Older than 72 hours:

More than 20 mg/dL or more than 340 mmol/L

Note: A premature or sick baby with bilirubin levels lower than those listed above may need treatment.

A premature baby's liver is immature and may not be able to break down bilirubin properly in the blood. This is one of the reasons premature babies are more likely than full-term babies to develop jaundice.

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, defined as a total serum bilirubin level above 5 mg per dL (86 µmol per L), is a frequently encountered problem. Although up to 60 percent of term newborns have clinical jaundice in the first week of life, few have significant underlying disease.1,2 However, hyperbilirubinemia in the newborn period can be associated with severe illnesses such as hemolytic disease, metabolic and endocrine disorders, anatomic abnormalities of the liver, and infections.


Up to 60 percent of term newborns have clinical jaundice in the first week of life.

Jaundice typically results from the deposition of unconjugated bilirubin pigment in the skin and mucus membranes. Depending on the underlying etiology, this condition may present throughout the neonatal period. Unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia, the primary focus of this article, is the most common form of jaundice encountered by family physicians. The separate topic of conjugated hyperbilirubinemia is beyond the scope of this article.

Risk Factors for Hyperbilirubinemia

Infants without identified risk factors rarely have total serum bilirubin levels above 12 mg per dL (205 µmol per L). As the number of risk factors increases, the potential to develop markedly elevated bilirubin levels also increases.2

Common risk factors for hyperbilirubinemia include fetal-maternal blood group incompatibility, prematurity, and a previously affected sibling (Table 1).2-4 Cephalohematomas, bruising, and trauma from instrumented delivery may increase the risk for serum bilirubin elevation. Delayed meconium passage also increases the risk. Infants with risk factors should be monitored closely during the first days to weeks of life.

Hyperbilirubinemia in the Term Newborn - February 15, 2002 - American Family Physician

[DoulaLC]

Avasean... are you by chance breastfeeding? This can be helpful as well as it will help increase bowel movements.

[Krazi]

Actually sunlight works wonders if the bili levels aren't too high. We frequently send babies home with orders to stay in the sunlight, even through glass. Sorry WG.

Bili levels as high as your baby's does warrant a bili light or a bili blanket. Bili levels have to be watched very carefully.

9.4 is acceptable, but is still a little high and should be watched carefully.

Oh, yeah. CONGRATS!!!

Krazy, please quote your sources.

Made edit to post made snippets full and links added.

[J_9]

made edit to post made snippets full and links added.

Thanks. Greatly appreciated. :D

[Krazi]

Thanks. Greatly appreciated. :D

No problem...

[artlady]

CONGRATULATIONS ! BIG ROUSING CHEER!!
Hope you are feeling well also!
Best of luck!