Jaundice - any tips. Slightly worried.

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Baby no.3 was born on Thursday night: We've been home since Saturday afternoon. Noticed yesterday that she was starting to go slightly yellow. My eldest two had slight jaundice which they didn’t need any treatment for so I wasn’t worried initially.

Baby seemed lovely and pink this morning and has been feeding well (EBF) and having plenty of wet nappies which are getting heavier. I took her outside to do the school run and she looked horrendous - really yellow 😢 it’s freaked me out and I’m so upset. I’ve had her sat in the window at home and have rung the midwives who have said that they’re not worried unless her chest/abdomen starts to go yellow. As far as I’m concerned she’s feeding really well. She’s having more wet nappies than my eldest 2 ever did at this stage however she hasn’t pooped in more than 24 hours which I’m guessing won’t help matters as that’s how excess bilirubin leaves the body.

I’m feeding as often as I can but feels like it just isn’t enough. So worried.

Anyone?

If you're still worried then call the midwives again and explain that you're concerned, hopefully they will see you and put your mind at rest.

With my little boy, they said that as long as he is waking for feeds or can at least be woken for a feed (e.g. when changing his nappy), then not to worry at all and it will go away. Eating well and being near natural day light will help 😊

Don't panic! But at the same time, if you're worried and want reassurance then ring them and push to be seen as I did and it make me feel better knowing a medical professional said it was nothing to be concerned with.

I agree with PP, don't panic! Keep a very close eye on her and call your midwives if you're concerned - they may invite you in to check her levels. My DD was severely jaundiced, she needed to lots of phototherapy and was very yellow for the first month or two. You're doing the right thing by feeding as much as you can and keeping her in daylight, so hopefully she'll be ok in a few days! But do call and insist you're seen if you're worried. If she seems unusually sleepy or groggy, take her into your maternity/postnatal unit. My DD went downhill quite quickly before the second round of treatment. You're doing everything right though! Congratulations on your little girl

My DD was the same, it’s apparantly really common in breastfed babies. My Community midwife took a blood sample which came back below the threshold but I did end up getting referred 10 days later for another blood sample at the hospital. It was also fine and DD recovered on her own.

If you're worried call them again.

They can use a special machine they press against the chest to measure levels. If they are too high or still not sure they'll take some blood from the baby (.zjust a prick on the foot).

I had baby number 3 two and a half weeks ago and after 3/4 days he developed jaundice.

He did go into hospital and did have higher than ideal levels. He went under light therapy for 12 hours and then we were discharged the next day.

He was fine within himself but the Saturday he went in to hospital feeding was harder.

DS was nearly 3 weeks early which can be a factor.

The tests don't hurt him nor does the phototherapy.

Hoping your little girl is doing ok.

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