Jaundice?

[ellebelle]

Is anyone else dealing with jaundice? My DD1 had it too but I was hoping we would avoid it this time. Unfortunately the pediatrician called tonight to say DD2's bilirubin count went up to 16.8. They want me to feed her and then pump and then offer her that milk but I'm struggling to do that with DD1 and trying to not go crazy with constant feedings. Just wondering what other people's pediatricians recommend for jaundice. Thanks!

[melody330]

::raises hand:: ds1 had it too, but worse I think. Ds2 doesn't go to Pedi until tomorrow.

Is your milk fully in?

Last time the plan was wake ever 2 hrs during day and 3 at night. No pumping needed. Breast compressions while LO is latched and really encourage long feeds. I had to undress ds1 and wipe his chest with a wet towel once to wake him up.

Skin to skin a lot during the day.

Daily weight checks at Pedi for about a week to make sure we were progressing.

Once he regained birth weight the Pedi appointments went to once a week until jaundice was gone.

Sorry you're dealing with it again. I'm pretty sure we are too, just not as severe this time

[ellebelle]

Ugh sorry you're dealing with it too melody330. My milk came in on day 4 so she's been getting it for 3-4 days now. I like your pediatrician's plan. I've been waking her to feed her every 2 hours tonight and using wet wipes to help wake her up but she is just so sleepy. I'm keeping her fully undressed under the swaddle. I did pump this afternoon and she guzzled down that milk this evening after a feed. Makes me feel like I'm not giving her enough.

[melody330]

Can you do a weighed feeding? Then you can see how much she's getting at the breast. Just because she guzzled down a bottle doesn't mean she was hungry!

[ellebelle]

We did one today and she took 50mL and then woke up and took an additional 14mL, totaling 64mL. The pediatrician said that was fine because the target is 60-70mL per feed but they want to flush out her system because that's how she'll clear the bilirubin.

[potter713]

I'm a lurker coming out of hiding. L is jaundiced too. We had to go for daily heel pricks for a week. His highest was 16.8 but since he was 3 weeks early his dr said his max could only be 18 before he would need to be admitted for phototherapy. She wanted me to pump and bottle feed (he also went from 8 lbs to 6 lbs 15.5 oz). I gave it 24 hours before trying that and nursed him around the clock. Next weight check he gained weight. His bili level started to go down and weight is going up and we no longer have to go for heel pricks just weight checks. He's almost back to his birth weight now. We go back August 2nd for his 1 month appointment and next weight check.

[ellebelle]

Good luck potter713! So did you end up pumping too or just feeding him nonstop? I'm exhausted from waking DD up every 2 hours last night but I'll keep doing it if it's working.

[littlesthobo]

DS1 was slightly jaundiced when he was born and the paediatrician recommended putting him in a sunny spot inside the house. It did help! (It was April- I wouldn't recommend direct sunlight outside this time of year!)

[cabbagecabbage]

Malcolm was high risk and had to get foot poked every 12 hours (awful) but never needed the lights. They had me pump and syringe feed him after nursing so he didn't have to expend as much energy. Such fun at 3 am in the hospital! I only had to do it for one day but my milk came in day 3 and he perked up fast. He eats, pees, and poops constantly now.

[potter713]

Jul 26, 2016 6:50:17 GMT -5 ellebelle said:

Good luck potter713! So did you end up pumping too or just feeding him nonstop? I'm exhausted from waking DD up every 2 hours last night but I'll keep doing it if it's working.

I nursed him nonstop pretty much. I set a timer on my phone for every 1.5 hours since he would nurse for about a half hour. Tried that for 24 hours until our next weight check and he gained an ounce by the next weight check so I kept doing that. I never wound up pumping and feeding bottles. He just got his first bottle a couple of days ago and he's 3.5 weeks old now. I'm feeding him on demand now since he's gaining nicely. He still eats every 2-3 hours for the most part. He will be nice and go 3-4 hours overnight sometimes now.

[melody330]

Just got back from Pedi. Definitely a little jaundice. They didn't do a heel prick but she said it wasn't too bad, especially since my milk just came in last night. He was 8 lbs 14 oz at birth, and today he's 8 lb 1 oz. not so bad. Plan is to pester him to nurse all day and count his diapers. No pumping needed.

Hopefully you LOs clears up soon!

[ellebelle]

We got our level back just now. Down from 16.8 yesterday to 15.2 today. I nursed her every 2 hours over the past 24 hours and decided not to pump. She also gained 2 oz. while I did that. So they want me to keep waking her to feed every 2 hours around the clock until her weight check next Monday. We also went on a half hour walk in the sun today so hoping that helps too. She's so sleepy during feeds it's such work to wake her and keep her awake enough to take a decent amount from at least one side.

[ellebelle]

Thanks for all the commiseration ladies. Hope everyone's LOs are clear soon!

[melody330]

ellebelle glad the numbers are moving in the right direction! Keep doing what you're doing. It will get better!