A poorly functioning liver causes bilirubin, a toxin caused by the recycling of old blood cells, to build up in the blood. A buildup of bilirubin can be related to certain illnesses, and babies can suffer from the effects of the toxin mainly because of their undeveloped livers. Light therapy is one of the most effective ways to eliminate bilirubin from the blood.
Step 1
Place white, reflective cloths around the phototherapy unit to optimize energy delivery. Make sure that the lamps are not farther than 20 inches from the infant's skin, but not so close that the baby can touch them and burn himself.
Step 2
Make sure that there is no oil or lotion on baby’s skin. You may want to wash the baby in case there is still some residue from oils applied earlier.
Step 3
Protect the baby’s eyes from the bright light by covering them with eye patches. Remember to check periodically that these patches have not moved and that they keep covering the baby’s eyes during the entire treatment.
Step 4
Undress the baby so that she is only wearing diapers, and place her under the phototherapy unit. Maximize the surface area affected by the light. Remember to turn the infant regularly so that you expose all of her skin to the light at one point or another. If the bilirupin levels need to be lowered at a very quick rate, your doctor may order the child's diapers to be removed.
Step 5
Turn the phototherapy unit on and turn it to the setting prescribed by the doctor.
Step 6
Avoid dehydration by feeding your baby every two to three hours. He may need to drink more than he usually does during the treatment. If you are breastfeeding him, do not stop. Monitor that the baby is not getting dehydrated by making sure that he has at least six wet diapers per day.
Step 7
Make sure that the lamps do not generate excessive heat. Take the baby’s temperature every four hours to make sure that it does not rise to dangerous levels. Remember to write the temperature you measured down so that others attending her can use the information.
Step 8
Make sure that the equipment you are using is maintained regularly. Old fluorescent tubes do not provide adequate light intensity, and are therefore less effective. Ultraviolet filters screens may also fall if they are not secured or maintained properly.
Step 9
Make sure that the levels of bilirubin in the baby’s blood are checked periodically. This should be done at least once a day, but some nurses do it every few hours or so.
Step 10
Ask your doctor how long you should continue phototherapy. Typically, the treatment is continued until the condition subsides.
Tips and Warnings
- If your baby is extremely premature, phototherapy blankets, instead of phototherapy lights, should be considered to prevent the immature retina in his eyes from getting exposed to the bright light.
- During light therapy, the body breaks down and disposes of bilirubin. This causes bowel movements to become more frequent and stools to turn softer and greenish. This is normal, so don't be alarmed if your baby has any of these symptoms. Interrupting the treatment is not recommended unless it is necessary for feeding or changing diapers.
Things You'll Need
- Light box
- Eye patches
- Thermometer
- Paper
- Pen
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