Newborns have tremendous adjustments to make following delivery. Each body system is forced to function on its own after the umbilical cord is cut. Jaundice occurs to some degree in many newborns because the liver hurries to assume its role in filtering bilirubin. A substance formed from the breakdown of red blood cells, bilirubin gives the skin a yellowish tint as it increases in the blood. In many cases, treatment is not required and the condition will resolve on its own. Babies with severe cases of jaundice require special attention to help decrease the levels of bilirubin in their blood.
Frequent Feeding
Babies who have jaundice should eat every two to three hours, especially if breastfeeding. The more a baby eats, the more bilirubin he will be able to expel through his bowel movements. Breast milk encourages frequent bowel movements. Formula can have the opposite effect, though every baby is different. Jaundice can make a newborn tired and may cause him to sleep through his feeding times. Parents should wake their baby to avoid delaying or skipping a feeding.
Phototherapy
A pediatrician may recommend that your baby be placed in direct sunlight for a specified amount of time each day, depending on the severity of his jaundice. Phototherapy lights are often used before newborns are discharged from the hospital. In both cases, light changes the shape of bilirubin molecules, allowing them to pass more easily into the digestive tract. A baby is placed under phototherapy lights in only his diaper and protective eye covers. Phototherapy pads, which are placed next to the baby's skin inside the baby blanket, can also be used.
Intravenous Treatment
Sometimes a difference in blood type between mother and baby is responsible for causing jaundice. Doctors may prescribe a special protein, known as immunoglobulin, to be administered intravenously. Immunoglobulin helps decrease the antibodies from the mother's blood that are left behind, according to the Mayo Clinic. These antibodies are responsible for the destruction of red blood cells in a baby's circulatory system, which can result in jaundice. Immunoglobulin stops antibodies from destroying red blood cells.
Exchange Transfusion
In the most severe cases of jaundice, when other treatment methods have failed, an exchange transfusion may be required to decrease bilirubin levels. This type of transfusion is performed by removing small amounts of a baby's blood and then replacing it in equal volume with donor blood. The Merck Manual states that typically 160 ml/kg is replaced over a period of two to four hours.
