Jaundice in Newborns in Kingston WA

Jaundice is the most common condition that requires medical attention in newborns. The yellow coloration of the skin and sclera in newborns with jaundice is the result of the accumulation of unconjugated bilirubin. Bilirubin is the main bile pigment that is formed from the breakdown of heme in red blood cells. The broken-down heme travels to the liver, where it is conjugated and secreted into bile. Normally, a small amount of bilirubin circulates in the blood. Serum bilirubin is considered a test of liver function, as it reflects the liver’s ability to take up, process, and secrete bilirubin into the bile. If you have a newborn struggling with jaundice in Kingston WA contact our clinic today!

Caring For New Borns In Kingston WA

In most infants, an elevated level of unconjugated bilirubin reflects a normal transitional period. However, in some infants, bilirubin levels in the blood may rise excessively and can be neurotoxic. For these reasons, the presence of neonatal jaundice warrants diagnostic evaluation.

A study published in the Italian Journal of Pediatrics examined the effects of infant massage on neonates with jaundice. 56 neonates in Taiwan were enrolled in the study and were divided into a control group that received light therapy (phototherapy) only and another group that received both phototherapy and infant massage. The outcomes measured by the study included total feeding amount, body weight, defecation frequency, and bilirubin level. Infant massage was performed for 15–20 min twice daily for 3 consecutive days. At the end of those 3 days, the neonates that received both infant massage and phototherapy showed significantly higher defecation frequency and significantly lower bilirubin levels compared with the control group that received phototherapy only. The study concluded that infant massage could help increase defecation frequency and reduce bilirubin levels in neonates receiving phototherapy for jaundice.

References:

Effects of infant massage on jaundiced neonates undergoing phototherapy. Chien-Heng Lin, Hsiu-Chuan Yang, Chien-Sheng Cheng, Chin-En Yen. Italian Journal of Pediatrics. 2015 (41): 94