Newborn question.

My little one has Jaundice (not too bad, her level was 12) but I was just wondering when will it go away? Is there something I can do to help it go away? We have her first dr. appt. tomorrow, but I was just wondering if anyone else went through this. Also, I'm not complaining but she sleeps an awful lot. I'm trying to make her gain weight (6 lbs. 2 oz.) but I can't if she's sleeping all the time. She sleeps about 3 hrs and then up (eating) about 1 hr then sleeps 3 hrs. etc. etc. This normal?

to help with jaundice, get her in the sun! It will help a ton. Also, the more you feed, the quicker jaundice will leave. Every wet/dirty diaper helps get rid of it. The sleeping is very normal. Most babies are sleepy for the first couple of weeks.

Natural sun light, Arie had a mild case and was fine after a week or so.....place her in front of a window, works wonders!

They were worried abotu my son having Jaundice and they said one way to really help him was to feed him and get his body digesting. So got got fed a lot and pooped a whole lot.

Oh and feed her...plus the sleep is good and completely normal hun! Take care, and congrats!

My daughter had it as well and like the others said sunlight is good. She had to go to the doctor every other day till her levels were getting good and then once a week for a couple weeks. It was 5 yrs ago, but I think she was at 7 when we left the hospital.

Place the baby in sunlight. That is the best help for jaundice. My son had that as well. The babies schedule sounds good. When my son was an infant, he ran a very similar schedule. They need all the sleep they can get..that was one exhausting journey to get here!! Congrats!

My daughter had it pretty bad, her levels were only 13 but when we went back the next day they had to admit her so that they could put her under the UV lights! I was really sad but afterall it is really really common. She also weighed 6 pounds 2 oz, slept allll the time and had a small appetite, which are all symptoms of havinghigh Billirubin levels. Once she was treated she really pulled through. Now she is healthy as can be and weighing a whopping 15 pounds! Your baby is going to be just fine hun! Good luck and try not ot stress out.

Quoting steph~haileysmama:“ My little one has Jaundice (not too bad, her level was 12) but I was just wondering when will it go away? ... [snip!] ... she's sleeping all the time. She sleeps about 3 hrs and then up (eating) about 1 hr then sleeps 3 hrs. etc. etc. This normal?”

My little girl had Jaundice and had to be readmitted when she was three days old... I hated it. They put her under the light and she had to stay overnight at the hospital. Then they sent us home with one and told us to keep her under a window as much as possible. She cleared up in no time, but after it was all said and done her heels looked like pin cushions (from where they had to test her blood all the time). Every three hours doesn't seem too bad to me (I'm no doc though) but how much is she getting at each feeding? They say every 2 to 3 hrs, 2-4 oz each time....

I agree with the other posters regarding the sun for jaundice.

As for wanting her to put on weight, the sleep is good. Just make sure you feed regularly, and from the sounds of it you are. Actaully sleep/feed/sleep schedule is used a lot with preemies. I remember when my daughter was in the NICU, they would keep the preemies that needed to sleep away from the "noisy" babies (like my daughter). One of the nurses told me that it is because when they preemies wake up, they are using more energy and losing weight. When they sleep, less energy is used.

Good Luck and Congrats Mommma!

Quoting MrsH:“ I agree with the other posters regarding the sun for jaundice. As for wanting her to put on weight, ... [snip!] ... wake up, they are using more energy and losing weight. When they sleep, less energy is used. Good Luck and Congrats Mommma!”

I did this schedule with my son because he waspremature. Everyone yelled @ me for waking a sleeping baby, but he sure did put on the weight and it helped him get a great schedule for later on. He still goes to bed at the same time!

Thank you soooo much ladies. I knew it was common but either the doc didn't tell me what to do to help get rid of it or I was still out of it from surgery. I BF so I'm not really sure how much she gets but last night she ate for an hour.

Quoting MrsH: One of the nurses told me that it is because when they preemies wake up, they are using more energy and losing weight. When they sleep, less energy is used.

Very true! All the sleeping is good for turning those calories into much needed baby fat. My little girl was a preemie and she slept like a rock between feedings LOL but she is 4x her birth weight now.  

As for the jaudice, my daughter had it and was on-and-off the bili lights for 5 days. After that first week it never came back; jaundice is a very easy fix most of the time! Good luck!

Quoting usagi:“ Quoting MrsH: One of the nurses told me that it is because when they preemies wake up, they are using ... [snip!] ... the bili lights for 5 days. After that first week it never came back; jaundice is a very easy fix most of the time! Good luck!”

You don't get very far without picking up a few things after having 4 kids...   LMBO! Thank goodness we are finished... Ha Ha Ha Ha