jaundice?

i think my babygirl might have jaundice, but i'm not sure. A couple of days ago, i noticed the whites of her eyes were a tiny bit yellowish, but i thought i might be imagining it. Her skin didn't look yellow at all, but now that she's a little less flushed-looking, i can see some areas that may be interpreted as yellowish (like at the end of her nose).

She's 6 days old, and when we left the hospital (at 24 hours), the nurse even made the comment (while we were signing out "AMA") that "oh, there's no way that baby has jaundice, she isn't yellow at all" Is this something that would have shown up before we left, or could it have happened after we came home?

We have an appointment for a checkup on Monday. Should i ask about it then, or call the doc and try to make an earlier appointment? Is there anything i can do at home? I'm trying to get her in the sunshine a little, i heard that might help.

She's only a tiny bit yellow, if at all. Maybe i'm just creating problems that aren't there?

 

Push on her skin, when the blood is out of the area, is the dimple yellow?

 

If i where you i would call the doctor now and make a appoitment - if she is its better to get treatment now - she's 6 days old she can get all sorts. Call the doctor and explain to them - i dont know where you are from but even if its night still go and get her checked.

 

Don't call the doctor unless her skin tone is really bad. Take off most of her clothes and park her in front of a sunny window. If you call the doctor they will readmit her to the hospital and put her under those stupid lights. There is no need to treat jaundice unless the numbers are really high. The body, with the help of the sun, will break down the bilirubin as well as those lights will. And it won't interfer with your breastfeeding and bonding. She needs you more than she does the lights. If her color gets real bad or she starts to act sick, take her in then. Also, breastfed babies tend to take a bit longer to get rid of the yellow color. Doctors will try to tell you to take her off the breast and use formula. Not a good idea in my opinion. But this is only my opinion and my mommy experience. I'm not a doctor.

I've had 5 kids with jaundice. Two of them the doctors never knew about.

Kathi

 

thank you; i feel alot better now. If she has it, it can't be very severe.

 

yeah, kai was a bit jaundiced. the sunshine worked wonders.