What would you do?

[Rhigwyn]

Health visitor came out to see ds last Friday for the first time, he was 14 days. She seemed to think he was slightly jaundice. My mw saw him the day before and was perfectly happy his jaundice had gone. The policy here is that if they are jaundice after 14 days you have to take them in to see a paed at hospital. We really thought she was being overly cautious but went along because she insisted it was just a heel prick test and told us to put cotton wool in his nappy and they would use that for a urine sample. Got to the hospital where the paed said that it wasn't a heel prick but she would have to locate a vein in his hand because in her words they needed to take"quite a lot of blood". We immediately refused really feeling this was totally unnecessary and far too invasive for a 2 week old baby. Her opinion was that he was very mildly jaundiced. She said that we could go back down there today so she could see him again just for reassurance. We went with that option and now have to go there this morning. Really really don't want to have anything done to him that isn't necessary. But sometimes you can feel pushed into a corner, and like I'm not doing the right thing for my baby. WWYD?

wot did they want to take blood for? was it just standard? i'd take himbackn see if he is still jaundice but if u dont feel anything else is necessary then refuse like last time

To check the billarubin levels in his blood.she just said it's routine and they would call us at home to tell us the results.

I had the same - my LO had 2 tests for jaundice, the first was just a heel prick, the second involved sticking a metal tube into the back of her hand and taking blood for what felt like about 15 minutes, then waiting 3 hours in A&E for the results - which showed no treatment was needed and we could go home.

At the time we didn't refuse because LO was 7 days old and we couldn't wake her up (needle in back of hand did the trick!). I'm no medical expert but to me your LO sounds fine, and very likely they will just say go home and feed feed feed to clear the jaundice.

In your situation I would definitely refuse.

We had this done when ds was 2 weeks or so too (can't quite recall) as MW on day 3 thought he was sightly jaundiced (though he certaiinly wasn't by the time the letter came, HV even rang up to try and find out why we'd got a letter but was all much of a mistry. We took him along any way.

There was another baby having it done too. The other baby cried quite a bit, ds stired slightly then fellback asleep. He really didn't seem that bothered. I sometimes wonder if this is cause I was holding him where as the other baby was with his dad (mum waited outside as didn't want to see it done) and maybe at this age dads aren't as familiar and comforting as dad? (no offence intended there anyone )

I'm not saying it doesn't hurt, but just that if youur lo needs checking for this you maay well be able to comfort him, and it really isn't that traumatic imo. Not nice, but not traumacit. Obv others may have had other experiences and you will need to judge wether it is necessary for your lo. We didn't want to take a risk on this one.

They take one little vial (sp) of blood.

Hoppe it all turns out well for you

My ds was badly jaundiced, but the neonatologist took blood from a heel prick. To be honest, if his colour has improved, he's alert and feeding fine, I wouldn probably refuse to have a lot of blood taken too!

hi - my dd (3 wks old) has only just got rid of her mild jaundice. The health professionals i have seen has talked about taking her in to hosp but as she has put on weight, is waking to feed (although i have had to wake her every 2-3 hours to 'feed out' the jaundice!) and is alert, they have been happy to leave her be.

is your dd putting on weight, feeding etc ok?

we stayed under the care of the midwife for longer than usual as ds was jaundiced and we had been readmitted to hospital on day 3 because of it. she kept thinking the jaundice was still there slightly, until dh came along with me to an appointment and she realised that ds has the same slightly yellowish skin tone as dh naturally! my skin tone is more pinkish so he looks a bit yellow compared to me.

DD1 had the test done at 4 days old. She screamed the ward down and to be honest DH & I both nearly passed out as the DR was very messy and didn't catch much of all the blood he was taking out of her hand. She had a bruised hand until she was nearly 1y/o (yes 1 year!). She did need it done though as she was then admitted for double bili bed therapy for 2-3 days. She looked like George Hamilton!

In your case if your baby is alert, having the requisite no. of wet and dirty nappies, is exposed to sunlight when ever possible and is feeding well I'd skip the test for now and see how things play out over the week. Obviously if he gets very lethagic or turns orange again o if you have any other concerns take him straight back in (going through A&E if ness.)