Cures for Jaundice in Baby

Jaundice is a common condition in babies, and is not usually very serious. It is important for all newborns to be checked for it within the first few days of life, as jaundice usually occurs at two or three days of age. A qualified doctor should examine the baby, and help determine whether treatment is necessary.

Why Jaundice Occurs

• Jaundice is caused by an abundance of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a pigment that occurs naturally in the blood, and is caused by red blood cells breaking down. The liver removes it, but sometimes it takes a little while for a baby's liver to get used to removing bilirubin, especially since the mother's liver takes care of the baby's bilirubin before he is born.

  While most cases of jaundice go away on their own, bilirubin in very high levels can have some nasty side effects, including brain damage, so it is important for a doctor to check a baby who has jaundice.

Treatment

• A lot of the time, a baby with jaundice will not require any treatment. Make sure the baby eats every two to three hours. Breast-fed babies tend to develop jaundice more easily, and it is often due to nursing issues and the baby not getting enough milk. Supplementing the breast-feeding with formula may help, as will working with a professional to ensure the baby is nursing correctly.

  Sometimes the baby's doctor will suggest another treatment called phototherapy. This is a form of therapy that uses light. Light helps the body get rid of bilirubin. The baby will need to lie under the light in only his diaper, with eye protection in place, during the procedure. Babies who receive phototherapy will often have loose stools that may be greenish, but this is normal and should go away after treatment is over.

  Another form of phototherapy is a BiliBlanket, a pad that transports light to the baby's skin, and is made of woven fibers. This is a rather convenient method of treating jaundice; the baby can be clothed normally during the treatment and it does not affect diapering, nursing, or holding the baby. The pad does not need to be moved around the body to work, since it does not treat the skin itself, but rather the blood that flows beneath the skin.

  It is important not to attempt treating jaundice without the consultation of a doctor, who needs to look the baby over and help determine which methods are best for that baby and the extent of the jaundice. The baby will need to be rechecked during and after treatment to make sure she is healthy, the jaundice is gone, and no more treatments are needed.