newborns have jaundice any home remedies till can get to doctor?

When they released me from the hosp they said my newborns had jaundice and they wanted to go ahead and let them go home instead of staying longer to treat them... i was told go to pediatritian next day ,but with the new snow and cold weather not to mention was so tired and no one to help me go . I would have to drive myself. I called the ped. and she said was ok to wait a few days ...but i think i saw somewhere about putting them infront of the window for sunlight or giving them sugar water or something??? Does anyone know. ??? I know about the lights thing, but i need something till the weather is little better to get out.

 

I don't know about the sugar water - however I know fluids in general help wash the bilirubin out - as well as sunlight....can you have a medical supply house deliver a bili light or biliblanket for you if the ped prescribes one?

 

I'm moving this from Expecting to FY since I think you'll get more answers.

Putting them in front of a bright window, but not in direct sunlight, lightly dressed is really one of the best things you can do. 5 minutes at a time at least 3 times a day. The sunlight will break up the bilirubin that's causing the jaundice. Another thing is to get as many calories in them as you can by feeding them more frequently.

 

QUOTE(Her Royal Jennyness @ Feb 12 2008, 09:28 PM) [snapback]619006[/snapback]
I'm moving this from Expecting to FY since I think you'll get more answers.

Putting them in front of a bright window, but not in direct sunlight, lightly dressed is really one of the best things you can do. 5 minutes at a time at least 3 times a day. The sunlight will break up the bilirubin that's causing the jaundice. Another thing is to get as many calories in them as you can by feeding them more frequently.



I am going to do that. I also had read that about the more they have bowel movements the jaundice decreases, since then i have been giving them some bottles also to suppliment the breast feeding.

 

Feed, feed, feed!!!!!! Have them eat as much as they can possibly take and as often. Happened with all of my babies. With my first, I wanted to breastfeed. She didn't suckle very well so in turn she develped jaundice and had to to stay an extra two nights. I was so stressed over it so I decided to formula feed. Then the nurses yelled at me when she didn't get so many ounces (I hated them it was so stressful). But it's true. The more they eat the more they will poop. Pooping helps get the bilirubin out of their system. My twins had the same thing and I fed them like crazy so they wouldn't have to spend any more time at the hospital and it worked.

Also sitting them in the window works.

 

QUOTE(Mommy4_2 @ Feb 12 2008, 07:33 PM) [snapback]619015[/snapback]
I am going to do that. I also had read that about the more they have bowel movements the jaundice decreases, since then i have been giving them some bottles also to suppliment the breast feeding.


You need to bf as much as they allow, atleast every 2-3hrs. They should be having 6-8 wet diapers a day, and be pooping. If you choose to supplement I would not use a bottle with them being so young, I would do a dropper or syringe as to avoid nipple confusion.
My daughter had BAD jaundice and had to be hospitalized, so I know how it can be :hug99:

 

Put them just in a diaper and put them in a window of sunlight a couple of times a day. I have great pics of mine laying in the sun. I put a hat on and covered their eyes so the light wouldn't bother them. It is great.

 

The sunlight is good or a bili light or blanket and bf as much as possilble to wash it out.

 

I am a Nurses Aide on the Mother Baby Unit. If they are not getting a lot from breastfeeding even with eating every 2 to 3 hours and if pumping doesn't get you much milk sometimes it is necessary to bottle feedafew times. I know I will get blasted for this but I see so many moms who want to breastfeed ONLY and that is awesome but if their supply isn't plentiful yet, the baby needs a lot more to eat to flush that jaundice out. I did breastfeed and I know how emotional it is when all you want is breast milk for your baby but in some cases, formula is needed just for a few feedings. I fed and pumped nonstop but my milk supply wasn't enough for my babies in the beginning and I had to give formula just 4 times in those first days. I have never actually seen nipple confusion, either. Whatever you decide will be a great decision because only you know what is best. Sunlight works, too, but if their bilirubin is at a certain level, they may need to be on a bili blanket at home. Good luck!

 

Mine were on the bili blankets. However, the other key element was feed, feed and feed. I would bf first and then offer a couple of ozs of formula. Some times they took it, some times not. I was really stuck on bfing but knew I had to get the boys to "flush" out their system.

Put them in pack n play or sleeper in front of a sunlit window, lightly dressed (onesies...so skin is exposed) for about 15 minutes at a time a few times a day.

Hope you get to the doc soon.

 

did they do bloodwork at the hospital before sending you home, or did the babies just look jaundiced? were your babies born early? you really should try to get to the pediatrician for a follow-up ASAP, so they can be checked and labwork done to see what the bilirubin level is now. that determines whether the babies need to be treated with phototherapy or not. defintely feed, feed, feed -- pooping is the best way to get rid of bilirubin. if it is sunny, you can put them in front of a window. however, if you have been having a lot of snow, chances are, it's not all that sunny where you are. i would avoid giving them anything but BM or formula without guidance from your pediatrician. hopefully someone can help you get the babies to the peds today -- chances are the bilirubun levels will be fine, but if they are too high, the babies will need further treatment. untreated significant hyperbilirubinemia can lead to some serious neurologic consequences -- it is rare, since we are more vigilant about checking levels, but not unheard of and i wouldn't want to risk it. sometimes, you can have a visiting nurse come to your house to draw blood and the results can be sent to your peds if it is too hard to leave the house.....

 

Mine one was under the lights at the hospital for less than a day for jaundice. They won't let you go home unless it is within normal limits. She was jaundice for her first month -- gotta love that tan ! At the first month check up I decided to just give her formula for two days and then back on breast milk. It cleared up soon after that. The doctor said they don't tell mother's to stop bf anymore like they did inthe past. I still had the other baby and my pump to keep my supply up.

Heather

 

Our boys had it in the nicu and they told us breast milk is a really good way to get levels to go down.

 

:angry: ok maybe you have read my post about my twins jaundice... i got thm to the doc today, only 2 be told the werent able to test them there and i would be sent to a lab. then to be told that since my insurance was medicaid for pregnant women...and i just had delivered before 1 week that the kids dont have thir own nmber yet...they get that after 30 days !!! UGGGGH!! but they say it needs 2 be checked now :rotflmbo: :umm: