Goddamn jaundice

My daughter (9 days old- born 4 weeks early) went under the billi lights for 16 hrs in the NICU before being discharged on day 3. Her billi level was 13.7 and then it went down to 12.5 before discharge. It remained steady for a few days, and now has gone up to 15. Her doc said that she doesn't need the lights again yet- just to try natural light and supplement breastfeeding with pumped milk so she gets more fluid to pass the billirubin.

I am a disaster. I have read that the type of brain damage it can cause at levels of 20 or higher is akin to cerebral palsy. I am so scared- Any mamas been through this?

Quoting SummerMama333:" My daughter (9 days old- born 4 weeks early) went under the billi lights for 16 hrs in the NICU before ... [snip!] ... of brain damage it can cause at levels of 20 or higher is akin to cerebral palsy. I am so scared- Any mamas been through this? "

Don't worry mama. Its normal. My daughter's were at 18 and no one was concerned. We didn't do anything for it except indirect sunlight and she's 2 and fine, lol.

Yep i did and my daughter had to be hospitalized because her levels were at 18 on day 5. They let her go home after 24 house of billi light treatments. Her billi levels had to be at 15 before they would let her go home. She was 4 weeks early also. It was a very scary time. Good luck hun. Make sure she gets plenty of sunlight it really helps.

My oldest boy (10 now) was orange with Jaundice and they still sent me and him home as normal, He didn't act any different from any other baby, They didn't recommend he go underlights, Just that i breastfed him regulary (Which he was already doing the greedy lil pigger lol) Keep him in natural light, And make sure he was wetting and pooping normally, Which he was doing, Within a week it all cleared up and he was and is perfectly fine.

Quoting Chim Richalds:" Don't worry mama. Its normal. My daughter's were at 18 and no one was concerned. We didn't do anything for it except indirect sunlight and she's 2 and fine, lol."

The doctors have me in a bit of a panic- I just want it to go AWAY! We have been dealing with constant checks and doctor visits since day 2 and I'm just so sick of seeing my baby get poked, and of it just lingering. I feel like my body just totally failed by delivering early...I'm so mad at myself.

If it is sunny and warm get her outside in a diaper and a hat for about twenty minutes at a time. Encourage her to nurse as much as possible. My son was extremely jaundiced and the hospital did nothing for him so I demanded to go home so I could get him home and in the sun. His cleared up in a few days of doing that.

Quoting SummerMama333:" The doctors have me in a bit of a panic- I just want it to go AWAY! We have been dealing with constant ... [snip!] ... baby get poked, and of it just lingering. I feel like my body just totally failed by delivering early...I'm so mad at myself."

My daughter wasnt early and her levels were higher than that, don't feel bad mama.

They made me bring my daughter in every day almost too. That part was annoying. I guess they DID watch her thinking back.

It took a full month to go away, but she is fine.

Quoting SummerMama333:" The doctors have me in a bit of a panic- I just want it to go AWAY! We have been dealing with constant ... [snip!] ... baby get poked, and of it just lingering. I feel like my body just totally failed by delivering early...I'm so mad at myself."

Dont blame your self hun. Full term babies get jaundice too!

Thank you ladies! I feel better, and she is basking in the sun like a little lizard  

I don't remember what my son's levels were, but he had to be under the light for 12 hrs a day for a week. then off and on again over the next few days. He is just dandy!!!

My sons levels were 14, I had to sun bath him 15 min on back 15 min on stomach and then I had to nurse and formula feed so he could get enough fluid and pee