Newborn jaundice

[GiraffesCantDoMentalArithmetic]

Hi
My dd is six days old and quite jaundiced. The last two days her levels have risen and she needs to be tested again tomorrow. Can anyone tell me what to expect if her levels haven't dropped to 'normal'?

She's a good weight, only lost 3% of her birthweight and has lots of wet and dirty nappies. She's EBF. Have been told to feed her as much as possible which is causing its own anxiety with sore nipples. Also to contact them ASAP if she becomes less responsive. Obviously now she's tired (probably from all the feeding) and I don't know if I'm over interpreting everything due to hormones.

Anyone had similar?

Yes, I had a jaundiced baby - had to have treatment with the lights in the first week and then referral to check at 6 weeks. She was quite obviously orange! As far as I'm aware it's quite treatable so as long as they're keeping an eye on it I wouldn't worry too much. Can take longer to clear wth breastfed babies.

Thank you!
How long does the treatment take? I.e. Do you have to be readmitted overnight?

My LB had jaundice until he was almost 3 months old and was under the prolonged jaundice clinic.

Like your LO, he’s EBF and it turns out there’s actually a type of jaundice called breastmilk jaundice. We never required any treatment. My LB now 9 months old, still BF, and thankfully, no longer yellow

We were readmitted to children’s ward at day 4 for light therapy. My dd became unwell quite quickly- midwife saw us at home and took blood- sent it to be tested. Called us back couple hours later to go back in- by this point baby was really sleepy, quite floppy and not alert at all. Found the 2 days we were in difficult- you have to feed lots (my milk came in overnight), but also keep them under lamp as much as possible. It’s a balancing act. However, all fairly straight forwards and cleared up quickly.
Good luck.
If you are at all concerned about responsiveness of baby seek help. (111/ gp/ midwife). No one is going to be cross at checking poorly tiny one.

Thanks mama. Both my previous dds were EBF and had yellow tinged skin. They didn't have the little hand-held scanners then though so no one seemed to worry about it if everything else was fine.

I think I'm over worrying this time because I might in more pain post CS and still having issues with catheters etc. Can't cope with the idea of all not being well with dd as well!

Thanks cantchoose. I totally understand what you mean about the balancing act! My milk is thoroughly "in" - my boobs are bursting and I don't want to overstimulate milk production but I do want to flush out all these extra blood cells. And my nipples really hurt too

I have been relying really heavily on DH - not sure how I'll deal with being in hospital with dd without him.

The staff will help!
Don’t worry about leaning on people, especially dh- it’s the only way through. Your hormones play massive part at his point too.
I sobbed on a lovely student nurse on the ward at 5am when they were trying to get blood- it was tough. It’s very treatable!!
I did spend couple hours in middle of night trying to hand express into paper cup- was too scared to leave dd, in too much pain not to do something as suddenly had massive rock hard boobs. Too scared to get her out of incubator to feed.
It all worked out fine. Be kind to yourself, too.

Aw, I feel for you. My daughter was jaundiced, it was picked up the day after we got home. She had to go back for tests three days in a row, the second day her levels had risen and the third day I was an emotional wreck! We had to wait around for ages to find out if she needed the light therapy and my hormones made me so stressed and worried about how she would cope with it and hating the thought of being back in hospital. Luckily her levels dropped on the thirs day and we were discharged.

Looking back it’s weird to think how upset I got about it all as I knew that she would’ve ok in the end but your hormones just go crazy after giving birth and it can all seem too much.

I hope you get good results tomorrow but if not, then hopefully it will be sorted within a couple of days.

Also, yes the staff will help out if you have to stay in so try not to worry too much about that.

Thanks thatgirl. I know my hormones are all over the shop!!!! I've got to have my catheter removed tomorrow and I'm sobbing about that too (I have a horror of tubes...) I just want to enjoy my last baby but everything seems horrific!

Thanks for everyone's replies last night. We were readmitted today for photo-therapy. Dd not happy about it and I'm crying like a loon. Hopefully we'll only be here for a day or so.