How should a newborn with jaundice be sunbathed?

Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
Updated on September 21, 2024
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Neonatal jaundice is one of the most common symptoms in newborns, and it is divided into physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. In cases of physiological jaundice, the baby is generally in good condition, the onset does not occur very early, and the duration is not very long, generally requiring no special intervention. If the jaundice progresses more quickly, it usually peaks around the fourth or fifth day for normal babies. At this time, if parents are concerned, they can appropriately expose the baby to sunlight. Sunlight has a certain effect on reducing jaundice by irradiating the skin. It is generally required that the skin be exposed directly to the sun without going through glass, ideally when the sunlight is not too strong, the external air temperature is not too low, the wind is not too strong, and the weather is good. Generally, the baby should lie in the sun with skin exposed, and some may choose to lie on their backs, but it is important to protect the eyes from direct sunlight. Another method is to let the baby lie on their stomach to expose their back and buttocks to the sun. The duration of exposure should not be too long. If the skin shows obvious redness, it should be stopped immediately, as strong ultraviolet rays could potentially cause sunburn, which might lead to discomfort for the baby. Therefore, when exposing a newborn with jaundice to sunlight, parents should be careful not to overdo it, and also make sure the baby does not get too cold.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
1min 2sec home-news-image

Can newborns with jaundice drink water?

Neonatal jaundice is one of the common symptoms in newborns, especially in the early stages. It can be categorized into physiological and pathological jaundice. If it is early-stage neonatal jaundice, the general condition of the infant is still good, but the progression of jaundice can be quick with noticeable reduction in urine and stool output, and dry skin may occur, possibly due to insufficient feeding. At this point, it is necessary to strengthen feeding. If the mother's breast milk is clearly insufficient, or the baby hardly gets any milk from breastfeeding, then supplemental feeding is required. Usually, supplemental feeding primarily involves formula feeding, and generally, babies are not given water because both breast milk and formula provide sufficient hydration. Hence, it is generally recommended not to give water to newborns with jaundice; instead, simply increase feeding.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
1min 15sec home-news-image

Why does neonatal jaundice recur?

Neonatal jaundice is one of the most common conditions in newborns, especially in early-born infants. If a baby has jaundice, it is important to determine whether it is physiological or pathological jaundice. If it is physiological, the jaundice will not appear too early or be too severe, and will gradually subside on its own within a certain period, typically without recurrence. If the jaundice decreases or has already subsided and then reoccurs, be vigilant for pathological jaundice. The causes of pathological jaundice are numerous and depend on the increase in bilirubin. If direct bilirubin is elevated, liver and biliary diseases should be suspected. If indirect bilirubin is elevated, it may indicate pathological factors causing destruction of red blood cells, leading to an increase in jaundice. Therefore, if there is recurring jaundice, it is advisable to seek timely medical attention at the hospital.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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Neonatal jaundice symptoms

Neonatal jaundice is most commonly seen in the skin and mucous membranes, and the sclera, or what we refer to as the eyes, presenting with a yellow discoloration of the white part. The most common symptom is yellowing of the skin. There may also be other symptoms such as crying and restlessness, fever, or rapid and irregular breathing. Some babies might sleep longer than usual, have difficulty feeding, or experience issues with bowel movements, such as a significant decrease in stool frequency or a reduction in urine output. These could be accompanying symptoms of neonatal jaundice. Each baby presents differently with jaundice; more accompanying symptoms often indicate a more severe condition. If the jaundice is limited to skin discoloration without other significant symptoms, it may indicate an early stage of the condition. Generally, if the jaundice is pronounced, it is considered pathological jaundice, and it is advisable to go to the hospital. A pediatric specialist can conduct relevant examinations and decide if immediate intervention and treatment are necessary.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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normal values of neonatal jaundice

Neonatal jaundice is the most common phenomenon in the neonatal period, generally divided into physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. If the baby's values are within the normal range, it may be physiological jaundice, which does not require special intervention and will resolve on its own. Typically, normal physiological jaundice appears 2-3 days after birth, peaks around 4-5 days, begins to lessen about a week later, and resolves within two weeks, generally occurring in full-term infants born after 37 weeks. It's advisable for babies to have their jaundice monitored daily within the first two weeks, especially during the peak period, from 2-3 days to about a week or around ten days, when jaundice monitoring should be more frequent. Normally, it's best if the bilirubin levels in newborns do not exceed 6 mg/dL in the first 24 hours, 9 mg/dL within 24-48 hours, 12 mg/dL within 48-72 hours, and 15 mg/dL after 72 hours. These values are generally considered acceptable. Additionally, jaundice progression should not be too rapid; if bilirubin levels rise more than 5 mg/dL within 24 hours, it indicates too rapid an increase in jaundice. In such cases, it is also necessary to go to the hospital, where a neonatal doctor should assess the baby and decide if special treatment intervention is needed.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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Does neonatal jaundice recede from the forehead first?

Neonatal jaundice is one of the most common phenomena in newborns, with about 80% of full-term infants visibly exhibiting jaundice. Typically, the development of jaundice begins in the facial area and gradually extends to the trunk and limbs. Its reduction follows the reverse pattern, generally receding from the limbs to the trunk and then slowly to the facial area. Usually, if the face no longer appears yellow, the jaundice has essentially subsided.