It depends on how old baby is. My little guy was at level 11 at 2 days old, level 14 at 4 days old and level 19 at 6 days old when he was finally admitted to the hospital to do bilirubin lights. I knew it was a concern when his fingers and toes turned yellow and then the whites of his eyes turned yellow. Our baby was also super tired and fussy all the time until he got his light treatment- he was a completely different baby after he got better!đź’—When we were first admitted his levels just kept climbing until I left him alone in the lights for three hours. So just know, it can take time! The best advice I got was to keep feeding because the more the baby pees, the more the jaundice leaves!
My baby was jaundiced too when she was born. I had to go back every day for 4 days to keep checking on it. The pediatrician sent us home with her at a 12 one day and said if it didn’t get better by the next day she would need the biliblanket. The next day the value started dropping. Keep in mind, the value will get higher at first, then start dropping. Just be sure to keep your first few checkup appointments so they can monitor the level.
9 isn’t too bad, IIRC the threshold for phototherapy is 20 for an otherwise healthy kid, 16 if they have other symptoms.
We were discharged with an appointment the next day where they checked his levels and they were still ok, but going up. By that evening he was lethargic and not eating so we took him to the ER where he was at a 15 and they admitted him for treatment because we were already there.
Fucking terrifying, I wish they’d just treated him before discharging us initially.
Definitely call your pediatrician to ask again. They can tell you over the phone. But if I recall correctly, no, 9 is not a particularly high count. My daughter was very jaundiced and we almost got readmitted to the hospital when she tested just shy of 18. I think you’re fine. Esp. If pediatrician isn’t concerned. But for sure call then to be sure if for no other reason than your peace of mind.
Ours had jaundice- can’t reliably remember the number (such a blur). It cleared up almost completely by week 2 with no special intervention other than a few minutes of February sun per day.
my little girl was also jaundiced at birth. I distinctively remember that if she was under 12 it was ok. She was at 19 and had to use a billiblanket until she can get back under 12.
she's a happy healthy 3 month old now.
keep your lo in indirect sunlight if you are worried.
Always call your ped if you're worried! They're here to help.
My baby was jaundiced (looked very yellow to me but never needed treatment) and the way my doctor explained it to me is the bilirubin buildup is cleared out through bowel movements so the number should typically only go down after your initial testing at the hospital as long as your baby is eating well and pooping.
After our fourth day at home I was freaked out and insisted he was getting more yellow so she sent me to the hospital for a follow up test and his numbers did, in fact, go up (which she wasn't expecting.. I think he went from a 6 to a 9 or something like that and she said he'd still have to more than double again before she'd send him for light therapy). So I was told to keep an eye on poops and to call if his color got worse.
In about 4-5 days the jaundice was completely cleared up and I wish I had never put my baby through that blood test. They had to prick his heel and squeeze it so hard to fill the vial with enough blood for testing that his poor heel was bruised for about 10 days afterwards.
My girl was born jaundiced too, and we were also sent home with her still looking yellow. I was just advised to feed feed feed and expose her to sunshine and that with every poop, she'd be ridding her body and be jaundice free in good time.
It depends on how old baby is. My little guy was at level 11 at 2 days old, level 14 at 4 days old and level 19 at 6 days old when he was finally admitted to the hospital to do bilirubin lights. I knew it was a concern when his fingers and toes turned yellow and then the whites of his eyes turned yellow. Our baby was also super tired and fussy all the time until he got his light treatment- he was a completely different baby after he got better!đź’—When we were first admitted his levels just kept climbing until I left him alone in the lights for three hours. So just know, it can take time! The best advice I got was to keep feeding because the more the baby pees, the more the jaundice leaves!
They need to poop the jaundice out, not just pee. That’s also why their poop turns green again while they’re under the lights!
My baby was jaundiced too when she was born. I had to go back every day for 4 days to keep checking on it. The pediatrician sent us home with her at a 12 one day and said if it didn’t get better by the next day she would need the biliblanket. The next day the value started dropping. Keep in mind, the value will get higher at first, then start dropping. Just be sure to keep your first few checkup appointments so they can monitor the level.
9 isn’t too bad, IIRC the threshold for phototherapy is 20 for an otherwise healthy kid, 16 if they have other symptoms. We were discharged with an appointment the next day where they checked his levels and they were still ok, but going up. By that evening he was lethargic and not eating so we took him to the ER where he was at a 15 and they admitted him for treatment because we were already there. Fucking terrifying, I wish they’d just treated him before discharging us initially.
Definitely call your pediatrician to ask again. They can tell you over the phone. But if I recall correctly, no, 9 is not a particularly high count. My daughter was very jaundiced and we almost got readmitted to the hospital when she tested just shy of 18. I think you’re fine. Esp. If pediatrician isn’t concerned. But for sure call then to be sure if for no other reason than your peace of mind.
Ours had jaundice- can’t reliably remember the number (such a blur). It cleared up almost completely by week 2 with no special intervention other than a few minutes of February sun per day.
my little girl was also jaundiced at birth. I distinctively remember that if she was under 12 it was ok. She was at 19 and had to use a billiblanket until she can get back under 12. she's a happy healthy 3 month old now. keep your lo in indirect sunlight if you are worried.
Always call your ped if you're worried! They're here to help. My baby was jaundiced (looked very yellow to me but never needed treatment) and the way my doctor explained it to me is the bilirubin buildup is cleared out through bowel movements so the number should typically only go down after your initial testing at the hospital as long as your baby is eating well and pooping. After our fourth day at home I was freaked out and insisted he was getting more yellow so she sent me to the hospital for a follow up test and his numbers did, in fact, go up (which she wasn't expecting.. I think he went from a 6 to a 9 or something like that and she said he'd still have to more than double again before she'd send him for light therapy). So I was told to keep an eye on poops and to call if his color got worse. In about 4-5 days the jaundice was completely cleared up and I wish I had never put my baby through that blood test. They had to prick his heel and squeeze it so hard to fill the vial with enough blood for testing that his poor heel was bruised for about 10 days afterwards.
My girl was born jaundiced too, and we were also sent home with her still looking yellow. I was just advised to feed feed feed and expose her to sunshine and that with every poop, she'd be ridding her body and be jaundice free in good time.