Pulley Watson was a proud sponsor of the 2010 Carolina Parent Baby Fair at the American Institute of Healthcare & Fitness.
High levels of bilirubin, a natural substance in your baby's blood,
cause jaundice and may lead to brain damage if not properly treated.
Why do babies develop jaundice?
All of us have some bilirubin in our blood. Before birth, a mother's liver gets rid of bilirubin for the baby. After birth the baby's liver takes over.
Sometimes it takes a few days for the baby's liver to work well, and the baby may develop jaundice during this time.
How can I tell if my baby has jaundice?
Ask about a jaundice bilirubin test before you leave the hospital. The best way to measure bilirubin is by having a sample of your baby's blood taken.
Your doctor or nurse will compare results from your baby's jaundice bilirubin test to what is normal for a baby the same age (in hours). Some hospitals
also use a special tool that can measure bilirubin when it is held to the baby's skin. Bilirubin levels are usually the highest when your baby is 3 to 5 days old.
What is kernicterus?
Kernicterus is a type of brain damage that can result when jaundice is not treated properly. A child with kernicterus can have cerebral palsy, hearing loss,
problems with vision and teeth, and sometimes mental retardation. Kernicterus can be prevented if jaundice is properly treated.
How is jaundice treated?
Your baby might be put under special blue lights (phototherapy) to lower the bilirubin level. You should not put your baby in direct sunlight; this is not a
safe treatment for jaundice and could cause sunburn. A baby with a very high bilirubin level might need a blood transfusion in the hospital.
