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Any advice on prolonged jaundice?

8 replies

ShootTheMoon · 20/09/2015 18:08

DS is just over two weeks old. He developed jaundice by the 5 day check and had three days of phototherapy (including triple phototherapy) before being discharged. He still has jaundice and in fact his levels have risen slightly since last week, but blood test aren't showing anything wrong other than high levels of bilirubin.

We have been told to get a referral to the prolonged jaundice clinic if he is still yellow at 2 months. Has anyone else been through this? What was the outcome? I feel I'm going to be anxious about this until his jaundice goes or until we next get tested. FWIW he is exclusively breastfed, exceeded birth weight by 10 days and has plenty of wet and dirty nappies. We have Gilbert's Syndrome on my side of the family and both DH and my DB needed phototherapy at birth, but their jaundice stopped quickly. One other minor detail is that DS had delayed cord clamping and his cord was very very long and thick, so presumably gained quite a lot of blood volume from delayed clamping, which may have made the jaundice worse.

I'm normally reasonably relaxed but I am quite anxious that we are missing something. Any advice or reassurance would be welcomed!

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Idefix · 20/09/2015 19:53

Not scientific but when ds was born 16yrs ago he left hospital at 9 days still jaundiced after many sessions of phototherapy. I was told by the mv to place ds in his Moses basket under the window, which I did. Eventually the jaundice did begin to fade.
Hope your lo improves.

ShootTheMoon · 20/09/2015 23:06

Thank you idefix - we are trying to get him some sunlight so will persevere with that!

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FattyNinjaOwl · 20/09/2015 23:12

Not exactly the same but when my DS was 6 days, he was sent back to hospital as the skin test gave a high reading. The bloods came back within normal range and he was discharged again. He was just yellow.
Lots of outdoors walks, plenty of sunlight (I know that's difficult in Britain!) That's all I have for you. Sorry I'm not more help, but fingers crossed your DS is a little less yellow soon.

ShootTheMoon · 20/09/2015 23:25

Thanks fattyninjaowl! Glad your DS was ok. My DS (and DM) seem to be the opposite - don't look especially yellow but have high bilirubin levels.

His skin is much more normal now so I'm hoping it's fading!

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BumWad · 22/09/2015 12:52

DS had extended jaundice, babies that are exclusively breastfed can get this. Eventually his bilirubin levels dropped very slowly, was around 7 weeks when it disappeared. I remember fretting about it too!

ShootTheMoon · 22/09/2015 16:57

Gosh 7 weeks bumwad? That seems a very long time away!

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Calliou · 22/09/2015 22:17

I see prolonged jaundice a fair bit at work. Delayed clamping can definitely contribute just because there are more red blood cells to break down.

If he is still jaundice at 21 days, bloods are usually taken at the prolonged clinic just to check all is ok. As long as feeding is going well and the weight gain is ok, you're getting lots of wet and dirty nappies, poo is soft and yellow, I wouldn't worry. Someone should be monitoring him weekly though while he's so small. Breastfeeding jaundice can take 8-12 weeks to fully go. Congrats tbh Smile

ShootTheMoon · 22/09/2015 22:52

Thanks calliou, that's helpful and reassuring to know. We had bloods taken last week and were told it's all clear, thankfully.

He is 21 days tomorrow and though his skin looks clearer, his eyes are still yellowed. He doesn't have any appointments scheduled until he is 8 weeks, though I have to see a GP next week so I can ask him to look then. He is feeding well (but has tongue tie as well) so I might get him weighed soon just to check that his weight gain is on track. There are certainly plenty of wet and dirty nappies and he's a contented fellow generally, so hopefully all is well,

Thanks!

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