newborn questions

Ann, I found this information onlineHow can I tell if jaundice is getting worse?Undress your baby in good light (daylight, if possible). Go outside if it is warm, or near a bright window. If it is dark, use bright room lights. Compare different parts of the babys body, but especially look for jaundice (yellow color) on the legs, arms, and lower abdomen by pressing your finger on the babyҒs skin and releasing it. Look for yellow color on the spot where your finger was. Check the whites of your babys eyes for yellow color. Some people have difficulty describing their babyҒs color as yellowӔ because what they see is orange or tan instead. All of these colors indicate jaundice in a newborn. What else should I look for when my baby has jaundice? [LIST][*]Pinkish-orange spots on the diaper that look like face make-up. This can be a sign of dehydration, and might go along with increasing jaundice.[*]Not having enough wet diapers or bowel movements[*]Excessive sleepiness (wont wake up to eat), or excessive wakefulness (wonҒt sleep at all).[*]Refusing to eat (possibly spitting up what he or she does eat).[*]High-pitched cry[*]Limp or tense, or alternating between the two[*]Arching his or her back or neck[*]Fever (temperature higher than 100oF)[/LIST]My babies were all jaundice but their levels were on the way to improvement by the time they came home. Did they give you a level before discharging?Good luck!

My son was also jaundiced when we were discharged on day 4. We were told to bring him in the following day to be checked. On that day at the pediatricians, they checked him and had us bring him in the next day. Then after that they told us he was fine. We did not have to use a billiblanket or place him in direct sunlight as some parents are told. Your doctor needs to be seeing your child until she gets the all clear. Make an appt. even if you weren't told to. Some babies are born congested due to amniotic fluid etc. being in their nasal passages etc. They will sleep with their mouths open for this reason. Some just prefer it. Kim

I am not trying to alarm you, but as a nurse, I would say if this it worrying you please have the baby seen. Most f the the time in rder for baby to be released from the hospital the jaundice would have shown signs of clearing up so the doctor might feel that the reat will just clear up on it's own. It usually does, however if you feel (and Momma's instinct is usually on the money) that this is not getting better or getting worse, pleae have the baby seen . Even if just to put your mind at ease. It is better to make that trip to the doctors for nothing than not. Newborn care brings enough stresses, no need to add anymore. Oh and yes some babies do sleep with their mouths open Good Luck and let us know how things are going. EZ

She has an appointment tomorrow. I called the ped. office today and they told me they were full, but they would have a nurse call me back. (I'm still waiting on that). Yesterday at the hospital they gave me a level of 40. I was a little concerned yesterday, but today her whites of her eyes are yellow and when you press on her skin it does not turn white, it is a yellow color. We live in the midwest so getting her in sunlight is impossible in the winter without freezing her. I just don't know how fast it can progress were it would cause some serious problems. Can't seem to find this anywhere. Any body know this? I am going to demand a blood check at her appointment tomorrow because that way I will know where she is at for sure.

My son was release from hospital at 2 days and put back in at 4 days. After talking to the nurse I am sure they will let you know if waiting one day is fine, but at least you know he will be seen tom. Also my son had an unusal about of blood cells. He was kinda extreme, They said he was trying to compenste for me (bio) and he was also 9 lbs 4 ou . Drs. don't mess around with jaundice so I am sure that they will be very thorough tom.

Anne, My son had a level of 25, it has been 15 years, but from what I remember they did an emergency blood transfusion? or exchange of his blood? Honestly I can not remember exact medicals terms of what they did but it was serious, so I would be concerned at 40. I would call Dr back today and ask more about what the bilirubin level was and what form of treatement they intend to take.Good luck!

Ann07, How did you make out at the appointment? I read your other thread, the startle reaction is very common in newborns. Sh will out grow it. Also as far as the noise goes, as long it is not prolonged blasting noise, you have nothing to worry about. Now the sleep feeding issue, some babies will set their own sleep feeding times and you seemed to have gotten lucky with a 5 hour stretch. How is she after 5 hours when she wakes up? Is she really starving hungry? If she is you may want to wake her and try and offer her the bottle. Do you feel she is eating enough? All babies I have ever cared for I have fed on demand, which meant I would make certain they ate enough, but did not freak if a feeding was not every 4 hours. I am sure in the next week or so she will be going through a growth spurt and will require more feeding. Newborns are amazing in that they have to get used to all that is around them outside the womb and they are alot more resiliant than we imagine. Sounds like you are doing a great job! Keep us updated. I for one love hearing about newborns and love to watch them change over time. EZ

Ann07, How did you make out at the appointment? I read your other thread, the startle reaction is very common in newborns. Sh will out grow it. Also as far as the noise goes, as long it is not prolonged blasting noise, you have nothing to worry about. Now the sleep feeding issue, some babies will set their own sleep feeding times and you seemed to have gotten lucky with a 5 hour stretch. How is she after 5 hours when she wakes up? Is she really starving hungry? If she is you may want to wake her and try and offer her the bottle. Do you feel she is eating enough? All babies I have ever cared for I have fed on demand, which meant I would make certain they ate enough, but did not freak if a feeding was not every 4 hours. I am sure in the next week or so she will be going through a growth spurt and will require more feeding. Newborns are amazing in that they have to get used to all that is around them outside the womb and they are alot more resiliant than we imagine. Sounds like you are doing a great job! Keep us updated. I for one love hearing about newborns and love to watch them change over time. EZ