Lil' guy Will has jaundice which is going to prevent us from going home today. I am super sad and have been crying all morning. However, we are very lucky that this was caught here while we are in the hospital. I would rather have this happen here than go home and it happen there where we end up in the ER. His bilirubin level was 15.1 and they need it below 12. After a few hours of phototherapy from 3am until this morning, his level only went down a little bit to 14.6 so we are staying another night. He will need light therapy (think tanning bed) throughout today.
What is jaundice?
Jaundice is an illness that can happen in the first few days of a baby's life. It turns your baby's skin, eyes and/or mouth a yellow color. The yellow color is caused by bilirubin (billy-reuben).
Bilirubin is made when the body breaks down old red blood cells. This is a normal process that happens all throughout life. Bilirubin goes to the liver, where it is changed again. Then it goes to the intestines, kidneys and out of the body. If too much bilirubin builds up in the body, it makes a yellowish color called jaundice (john-diss).
Jaundice is common in babies and is usually not serious. Fifty percent of babies develop jaundice.
Phototherapy usually lasts 1-2 days. Since our insurance pays for a 4th night, we are staying here at CMC wiith Will. CMC is a wonderful place to be and they are taking good care of him. We are able to feed Will every three hours between his light therapy.
Pray for us. Thanks everybody!
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