Abygail had me a bit worried as she changed from pink to yellow. By yesterday mid-morning the whites of her eyes were almost green! I took her to have her blood tested and her Bilirubin levels were 14.8 (high). Within a couple hours the Medical Supply people were here delivering a special light for her.
When bilirubin levels are high, a condition called jaundice occurs. Jaundice is a condition marked by high levels of bilirubin in the blood. The increased bilirubin cause the infant's skin and whites of the eyes to look yellow. Too much bilirubin may mean that too much is being produced or that the liver is incapable of adequately removing bilirubin in a timely manner. After birth, newborns begin breaking down the excess red blood cells they are born with and, since the newborn’s liver is not fully mature, it is unable to process the extra bilirubin, causing the infant's bilirubin levels to rise in the blood and other body tissues. This situation usually resolves itself within a few days, and we did try to place her under indirect sunlight but due to the weather there has been very little. So in some cases like Abygail's, special lights are used. This phototherapy is what they brought to the house to treat her. These lights work by helping to break down bilirubin in the skin. The infant is placed naked under artificial light in a protected isolate to maintain constant temperature. The eyes are protected from the light with a little blanket shield.
For babies, like Abygail, who require treatment, the treatment is usually quite effective. Usually newborn jaundice is not harmful and with phototherapy treatment clear up in a few days. She goes in tomorrow for a follow-up blood test and another hearing test (she failed the first two). Then a visit to her Pediatrician later in the afternoon. I am sure everything will come back great...she is already a nice shade of pink and her eyes are clearing up quickly. They say it is also common to fail a newborn hearing test due to excess fluid. So by now any excess fluid should be gone and she should pass no problem.
William and Andy are on their way home now from USA Medical Center in Mobile with great news. He finally has gotten the all clear on his Anemic issues. His hemoglobin is where it should be and he can finally after 3 1/2 years stop taking his Iron medicine. YEAH!!!
2 comments:
oh poor little aby. patrick was actually admitted for jaundice when 3 days after he was born--big babies usually get them. he spent 2 days in the ICU to be under the bililights. his bilirubin was 17...did they give aby little eye shields? she'll be alright though..and yeah, i wouldn'g worry too much about the hearing test. they can reevaluate. congratulations to wil for having normal iron regulation. that's good news. i got a package from katie, and there's a little happy for abby --will bring it by tomorrow...i'm pooped today.
Look at that grin! Devin had jaundice shortly after being born. Cleared right up after some "sunning" time. Congrats for will.
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