Jaundice_LF_30_11_04.+ - Mead Johnson Nutrition

Whentreatment isneededBilirubin is normally harmless in a healthy baby. But if it buildsup to an unusually high level and doesn’t go down, there isa risk of damage to your baby’s nervous system. 4 While thissounds very frightening, don’t be worried. Your doctor willorder blood tests to frequently check for a rise in bilirubin.If the levels rise above those considered safe, your baby willprobably be treated by special lights, or phototherapy.UNDER THE LIGHTSPhototherapy is treatment with special, bright lights.“Bililights” help break down the bilirubin in your baby’s body.These fluorescent lights are placed over your baby’s incubator.Your baby will wear a mask or eye patches while he’s under thelights to protect his eyes. He’ll also wear little or no clothing,so as much skin as possible can be exposed to the light. Thebililights are safe for his skin. Or, your baby may wear a bilivest– a fiber-optic pad wrapped around your baby’s middle thatallows more flexibility and eliminates the need to cover hiseyes during therapy.In very basic terms, the blue lightwaves from the bililightschange the structure of the molecules in the bilirubin. Thisallows the bilirubin to be moved to the liver, broken down,and eliminated from your baby’s body.While your baby is being treated with phototherapy, you maynotice his bowel movements are more frequent, loose, andmaybe even greenish in color. He may also sleep more, wakingonly for his feedings. Your baby’s phototherapy treatment maybe at home or in the hospital, where medical staff can watchhis progress. Normally, phototherapy treatment lasts for just afew days, until your baby’s liver matures enough to handle thebilirubin load. 4 While normal daylight has a similar effect, it’snot quite strong enough to help. 4 It’s also not a good idea toplace your baby in direct sunlight because of the danger ofsunburn. 4 Your baby’s doctor will let you know which treatmentis best for your baby, and how long he will need to be treated.HOW BREAST-FEEDING AFFECTS JAUNDICEBecause breast milk may interfere with the liver’s ability tobreak down bilirubin, a breast-fed baby may have jaundice fora longer period of time. If this happens with your baby, yourdoctor may suggest that you stop breast-feeding temporarily –usually no more than 48 hours – to help decrease the bilirubinlevels in your baby’s blood. 4 Doctors recommend this only if it’sabsolutely necessary, since your baby’s frequent sucking isimportant to building your milk supply.45