Jaundice

It’s common for preemies to contract jaundice, which is when their skin turns yellow-ish from increased bilirubin in the blood, usually just a few days after birth. Bilirubin is produced when the body breaks down old red blood cells, and is normally processed in the liver and excreted through the intestine, coming out in the baby’s poop. Because premature babies are not fully developed, their livers cannot always process all the bilirubin (and often they’re not producing much stool) so the bilirubin levels rise without a way to escape. Only extremely high levels of bilirubin are harmful, possibly causing brain damage. The NICU nurses monitor your babie’s bilirubin levels, to make sure it doesn’t reach a harmful level.

If your baby has jaundice, he’ll most likely be treated with phototherapy, meaning he’s placed undressed under special lights or in a light-producing blanked (the blanket is often used for jaundice breastfeeding) that breaks down bilirubin in the skin. Part of phototherapy is covering the baby’s sensitive eyes from the constant brilliant light with a soft cloth.

Because bilirubin levels fluctuate, phototherapy is used on and off as needed. This typically lasts under a week, but occasionally longer. As a side note, it’s uncommon for premature babies to need any treatment other than phototherapy, but if the baby’s bilirubin levels reach close to harmful levels, the doctor can replace the baby’s blood containing bilirubin with blood from a blood bank in an exchange transfusion.

(Adapted from the Parent Manual given to parents by the University of Utah Hospital NICU.)