How to Deal with Baby Jaundice

Baby jaundice is so common that six of every 10 babies have it, according to the March of Dimes. Jaundice refers to yellowish skin on your baby. The whites of the eyes may appear yellowish as well. Most of the time, jaundice goes away on its own, without causing any harm to your baby.

Instructions

1

Look for color changes in your baby's skin. If your baby has pale skin, when you gently press it with your finger, it should look white. If it looks yellow, your baby may have jaundice. If your baby has dark skin, check to see if the whites of his eyes are yellow or if the skin inside his mouth is yellow instead of pink.

2

Make sure your breastfed baby gets enough milk. Breastfed babies can develop jaundice when they don't get enough breast milk. You may need help with your breastfeeding, such as supplementing with a bottle, cup or a supplemental feeder. Babies can also get jaundice because of a substance in some mother's milk. Breast-milk jaundice starts when the baby is about four to seven days old, lasts about three to 10 weeks, and is not harmful.

3

Get periodic blood samples from your doctor. A blood group incompatibility problem between the mother and the baby can destroy the newborn's red blood cells, causing a buildup of bilirubin. This constitutes a serious type of jaundice, which usually begins during the first 24 hours of life.

4

Use phototherapy and/or a biliblanket if the bilirubin levels are too high. Phototherapy uses light to eliminate bilirubin in the blood. Babies lie under a row of lights with protective eye covers on. It looks like the infant version of a tanning bed. A biliblanket either comes in addition to phototherapy or serves as an alternative treatment. The biliblanket uses fiber optics and constitutes a more advanced therapy. The biliblanket uses the same kind of light in sunlight, only it filters out harmful ultraviolet and infrared energy.

5

Use the biliblanket 24 hours a day if that is what your doctor prescribes. The biliblanket is convenient because you can diaper, dress, hold and nurse your baby during treatment. When your baby's blood levels return to normal, you can stop the therapy.