Jaundice- any stories of experience?

[bumpysleighridejack]

Hello wanted to know if anyone can talk me down off a ledge with stories of having a jaundice baby and coming out the other side. DS was born early at 37 weeks, we were sent home after delivery but re-admitted to NICU on day 2 to get tested for jaundice. His levels were up so he had a night and a day of photo therapy. Levels cane down and we were discharged. Then this week midwife said he was still looking yellow so made an appointment for us to be seen today (he's 2 weeks now.) he's had another blood test and his levels are still up. (They didn't say how much.) they don't want us straight back in because he's alert and feeding well but we've got to have more tests next week. I'm so worried, does anyone know what any of this means? TIA

My twins were born at 37 weeks and one had phototherapy at hospital for jaundice. We had to go back a couple of times after we were discharged for blood tests but no issues. I wouldn't worry too much if they're feeding well.

You need to ask them about the concentration of bilirubin in the baby's blood - they graph it, so if it's going down it's fine as it'll just take time. Are you bf? Both mine had jaundice full term and youngest had phototherapy, he had bloods done daily and they kept us in TIL it was falling, so 5 days (with both actually) but they were still jaundice for a while as it takes a bit of
Time to clear

Thanks for replying. They gave the results over the phone so didn't say where on the graph he is at the moment. He is EBF and I understand that means it can take longer to go down? I think they want to test to rule other things out. We're 2 weeks in now and he's still yellow, how long did it take for it go completely?

My son was born at 36+6 and was discharged from hospital ok when born but had to be readmitted at 6 days old for light treatment for jaundice. He had it for a day and night also.
We had to go back a week later for blood tests which showed the levels dropping (but still present) they didn't readmit us because he was feeding ok and alert.
The HV checked again a week later and all was ok.
It is hard but it should be fine if baby is alert and feeding ok so try not to worry. Easier said than done with newborns.

My DS was born at 37 weeks, we were readmitted twice in his first week for phototherapy. He was jaundiced for about two months but after the first week they weren't worried as long as he was feeding and alert.

From what I remember there were two types of bilirubin they were checking for, a worrying one that indicated a problem with the liver and a not so bad one they can clear themselves over time.

Apparently it's more common in breastfed babies to find it harder to clear any newborn jaundice, I'm sure it will gradually clear in the next few weeks,

Thank you everyone, yes hoping it's just the breastfeeding jaundice! He does good periods of being alert and wakes for feeds regularly so trying not to worry.

My eldest had jaundice - she looked like a little Simpson bless her :) she was in the scbu for about a week on and off a lightbox and I had to feed regularly - waking her every 3 hours. Strapping strong 10 year old now.

DS2 had jaundice (not helped by a very severe tongue tie making it hard for him to feed) and we were readmitted on day 3 for phototherapy and a12% weightloss. His levels dropped sufficiently for us to be released after 3 days (only one night on the lights). We got the TT snipped and persevered with the breastfeeding and his weight gain picked right up.

At 4 weeks he was still noticeably jaundiced so we were referred back to the hospital for "prolonged jaundice" screening. They did a blood test and the levels in that were ok so we were discharged. He stayed yellow until probably 8 or 9 weeks and then it just went.

He's 6 months now and a perfectly normal colour with no ill effects! Interestingly the GP was always much more concerned about it than the hospital who always seemed fairly relaxed. I was so stressed at the time but it did all sort itself out. Good luck!

Thank you everyone for letting me know your success stories! I think I just got a fright when they said his bilirubin levels were still high, but I'll just keep going on the feeding.

My niece and nephew both had it. She was home on day 2 and then they had a week of her being very sleepy and placid and not waking for feeds then were put back in. She was in SCBU then back in the room for another week in total which my SIL found very difficult and she expressed as was told this would clear it quicker. She managed 8 weeks expressing then switched to formula.
When my nephew was born they were ready for it and he had the treatment straight away but were in for about a week again, she decided to go on to use formula again this time after an experience with a pretty horrible midwife who basically said that unless the feeding improved she wasn't getting home. Our maternity hospital is pretty grim post natally so she was just desperate to get out of there.

Both are brilliant, strapping young children now...very cheeky and lovely! Congrats on your new little bundle.

Have they looked into ABO Incompatibility? My son was 10 days late and became severely jaundiced after about 24 hours after birth.

He had a week of intensive light therapy and eventually started to improve. He was also EBF.

Turns out that he had ABO Incompatibility - the medical professionals appeared surprised at first that this was the reason.

I am O+, turned out my ex-husband was A-.

Hope your baby is better soon x

Continuing to bf was really challenging at first as he had to remain in his light therapy cot for the vast majority of the time, but I expressed and managed that way.

He continued bf'ing for three years after that, bless him!

My DS had terrible jaundice he was born at 37 weeks +2, it only appeared on day three. I thought it was normal but he was quite dozy. I popped out to the shops with him and luckily ran into a GP friend, who said go striaght back to hospital. With hindsight he looked like a curried prawn. We stayed in the hospital for nearly 10 days as he was so bad. He was 2.6kg at birth and dropped to 2.2kg. He is now a wonderful clever, funny 8 year old.

Rainminusbow-yes I think they're exploring all avenues including AOB incomparability- I don't know if they tested for that yesterday's results if that's part of the tests next week.

Thank you for all your stories and lovely to hear they grow up healthy and strong afterwards! I know they have to warn you of the worst (going into the brain/ brain damage) but its very frightening. He's a very good feeder on the boob so I'm keeping going even if that's prolonging it, hope that's the right decision.

And forgot to add that he's regained and gone over birth weight, so I think that's a sign not too worry too much?

I had 2 jaundiced babies due to antibodies in my blood. Although they both had phototherapy before leaving hospital we had to go back both times for more phototherapy. They were also breastfed but as someone else said if they are alert and feeding that is a good sign. My 2 are now both healthy teenagers.

My eldest Ds was born a day early, according to EDD.
He went yellow after a few hours and was put on a 'billie bed' (sp?) over night, which didn't help, He then went up to SCBU where we stayed for 8 days. He was EBF and was feeding fine, so let us home although still a little yellow.
Was still cause for concern at 19 days as he was still a little yellow and doctors were talking blood transfusions etc.
I upped his feeds, and this, also putting him near a window to sleep seemed to sort it out how ever, as he's now a healthy 21 yr old.