Liam
got jaundice when he was a newborn baby, in his 8 days of age he had to stay
for a night in the hospital for blue light therapy.
Liam got his eyes's closed with protective eye patches
We had
no idea what is jaundice at that time. When my sister came to visit us after my
childbirth, she said that she thinks Liam is going to yellow.
Then
we brought Liam to his pediatrician, and she gave us explanation about what is
jaundice. Jaundice is a condition when the baby’s skin and the whites of the
eyes turn into a yellow in color. That’s because there is an exceeding
bilirubin in baby’s blood. Bilirubin is produced by the breakdown of red blood
cells. In case of jaundice, the bilirubin is produced faster than the ability
of baby’s liver can break it down and excrete it from the baby’s body.
Type of jaundice is:
1. Normal
(physiological) jaundice, usually occur in most newborns because of the
immaturity of baby’s liver to process the bilirubin. This condition will
disappear by 1-2 weeks of age.
2. Prematurity
jaundice, appears in premature babies.
3. Breastfeeding
jaundice, caused by baby doesn’t get enough breastmilk. This condition usually
will improve over 3-12 weeks.
4. Rh or
ABO problem, this condition is caused by the baby and the mother have different
type of blood, where the mother will produce antibody that will destroy baby’s
red blood cells. It begin in the first of the baby’s life.
Just want to share
about our experience, I and my husband suggest, after the baby come home from
the hospital after childbirth is would be the best for bring your baby’s back
to be seen by doctor in 2-3 days of the baby’s age as the doctor can check the
present of jaundice. As The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that too.
Jaundice is a big deal, when it comes to above 25mg, it can cause form of brain
damage, infection or thyroid problem.
