Some babies simply have it easier than others. When an infant is born prematurely they will have to survive through many obstacles until they can go home from the hospital. There are some severe ailments preemies can suffer from such as sleep apnea, intravenous feeding and digestive disorders alike. One very common issue for early babies is something called neonatal jaundice.
Neonatal jaundice is a condition that results in the skin turning a yellow shade. Doctors can test for this with a process that blanches the skin with a form of digital pressure, from there it shows the skin tissue underneath and they can derive their results from there. If the level is 85umol or higher they will require treatment. They can have a yellowing of the skin, especially in the face and chest areas. Some full term babies can also have jaundice of some form. It is treatable and effects over half of all babies born. Most can be treated and the condition can disappear within the first week of life, a few weeks for those infants that are born severely premature.
The most common form of treatment for this ailment is via phototherapy. This is the practice of using lights to change the bilirubin so that their smaller bodies can eliminate it. This is generally is completed within the hospital, but in some cases the baby can go home with a device that will treat it. Those devices are usually a wrap, blanket, or band.
These devices are to be worn by the baby for a dew hours during the day and a home nurse generally comes to check on the baby and their equipment. They take a blood sample when they come to check on the baby to report their accurate level of jaundice they are experiencing. Do not worry, this does not hurt the new baby it is taken from their feet and only a small amount is drawn. This will continue for as long as the baby needs treated. Be sure to become well informed regarding the equipment that your child will be using while they are at home. If your baby will be using a lighted instrument, they usually need to wear some form of goggles or glasses while the machine is in use. This does not bother them, and you have to remember that it is all temporary.
Do follow all of the pediatricians directions when caring for a newborn with a jaundice. It is imperative that they cure this ailment as soon as possible as other complications can develop. Some children have such a severe case of jaundice that they need to be admitted into a Children's hospital where they can undergo a blood transfusion. Do not be overly concerned, many babies have this condition and they are fine within a week to one month of treatment.
