During the first week of a newborn’s life, parents will hear a lot about bilirubin and jaundice. Bilirubin is a chemical compound in the body that can cause a newborn’s skin to appear yellow due to an excess of bilirubin in the body. Over 60% of full-time newborns will show signs of jaundice. It’s normal. Newborns produce more bilirubin than adults and breast-fed babies are at even greater risk of having higher levels of bilirubin in their system. A newborn’s liver will eventually process the excess bilirubin out of their system but it can take some time. Your pediatrician will monitor your baby’s levels closely during their first 2 weeks of life so it is important that all parents are aware of this very important topic.
One of the most important things to understand is that bilirubin levels are at their peak levels between days 3 and 4 of life. If your baby’s levels get checked during this time, you can expect the levels will likely be higher than they were at birth. For both of my kids, they were higher than normal. It’s important that you understand your options and what you can do at home to help proactively lower these levels on your own before they potentially become dangerous and your provider recommends more aggressive treatments to get your newborn’s bilirubin levels to decline.
Things you can do to reduce your newborn’s bilirubin levels at home:
Indirect sunlight: As soon as you can, introduce indirect sunlight to your newborn’s skin. This can simply be through a window for 10-15 minutes a couple of times per day.
Feed your baby: A newborn eats a lot and often! You will feel like you are always feeding them. This is great for reducing bilirubin in the system! The more you respond to their feeding cues, the more likely you will help flush this compound out of their system more quickly.
Supplements: A vitamin D supplement and probiotic may also be helpful in supporting your little one’s system to properly dispose of bilirubin.
The point is: If you are told your newborn is jaundice, know that is very normal. If your provider becomes considered about your baby’s levels, there are things you can do at home within the first week you bring your newborn home to support them in reducing their levels more quickly. What else have you heard about bilirubin or jaundice in newborns?