Acute bilirubin encephalopathy and its progression to kernicterus ...
Newborn Jaundice
Newborn jaundice is a common and usually harmless condition in which your new baby's skin and eyes look yellow. About 60% of babies get it.
Jaundice happens when too much bilirubin, a chemical that red blood cells release during their normal breakdown process, builds up in the blood. Sometimes it goes away on its own, or your doctor may suggest light therapy or other treatments to knock it out.
Some of the body's red blood cells break down every day and create bilirubin in the blood. It's the liver's job to filter it out of the bloodstream. When your baby is still in your womb, your liver clears out their bilirubin for them. After birth, your baby's liver takes over.
Sometimes, your newborn's liver can't break down bilirubin as quickly as their body makes it, and it starts to build up. Because bilirubin is a yellow compound, it turns your baby's skin and eyes yellow. It can also happen if the bile ducts are blocked or scarred, a condition called biliary atresia.
Babies have a greater chance of getting jaundice if they're:
Jaundice typically shows up 2 or 3 days after your baby is born and goes away within the first couple of weeks. Some types may show up sooner or much later.
Breastfeeding jaundice happens because your baby isn't eating enough. Your milk may not have come in yet or your baby is having trouble latching on. The more your baby eats, the more quickly their body clears waste, including bilirubin, from their system.
Breast milk jaundice appears after the first week. Doctors don't know exactly why it happens, but they think something in breast milk keeps your baby's liver from processing bilirubin effectively. This kind of jaundice can last for several months.
More serious kinds of jaundice are caused by a disease or condition, such as:
Jaundice may also happen if a mom has a different blood type from their baby. If that's your situation, your body may make antibodies that attack and break down your baby's red blood cells. In some cases, you can help prevent this by getting special shots when you're pregnant.
The telltale sign of jaundice is a yellow color to your baby's skin and yellow in the whites of their eyes. It typically starts on the face. Once bilirubin levels in the blood get higher, the yellow color moves to the chest and stomach, and then, finally, the legs and arms. Jaundice may be harder to notice on dark skin, so check the whites of your baby's eyes and under your baby's tongue to see if those areas look yellowish.
Severe jaundice can be an emergency situation, so call your doctor right away if:
Usually, a doctor can tell your baby has jaundice by looking. But they'll also want to know how much bilirubin is in your baby's blood to help decide on a treatment plan. They may:
If your doctor suspects that a condition is causing your baby's jaundice, they may do other tests, like:
In many cases, jaundice goes away on its own in 1 to 2 weeks. Your doctor will decide whether your baby should wait it out or start treatments like:
Extra feedings. Taking in more breast milk or formula will help your baby poop more often, which can help clear out bilirubin from the body. Or, if your baby is having trouble breastfeeding, your doctor may recommend you feed them breast milk from a bottle or also feed them formula.
Phototherapy. The doctor puts your baby under blue-green lights. It can help bilirubin leave their body in their urine. They'll wear a diaper only so that most of their skin can soak up the light. They'll wear patches to protect their eyes. The light may come from a special pad or mattress that puts out blue-green light.
Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). If your baby's jaundice happens because they have a different blood type from their mom, your doctor may need to give them a blood protein through an IV that helps stop the breakdown of red blood cells.
Exchange transfusion. If your baby has severe jaundice that isn't getting better with other methods, they may need a blood transfusion called an exchange transfusion. In this process, your doctor repeatedly draws small amounts of your baby's blood and replaces it with blood from a donor. Your baby will need to stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for the procedure. It's rare for babies to need this level of treatment for jaundice.
Don't hesitate to get your baby checked if you notice signs of jaundice. It's rare, but if severe jaundice is left untreated, bilirubin can enter the brain and cause permanent damage. This condition is called kernicterus, a complication that includes:
There isn't much you can do to prevent the typical jaundice in newborns. But you can help move it along by being sure your baby is well fed. If you're breastfeeding, aim for 8-12 feedings a day in the first days of your baby's life. If you're formula feeding, offer 1-2 ounces every 2-3 hours. Exposing your baby to sunlight also helps break down indirect bilirubin. Sit by the window indoors with your baby or take your baby for a stroll in the stroller if it is a nice day with sunshine.
CPS Returns Baby To Parents After Nearly A Month-long Dispute Over Jaundice Treatment
DALLAS (WFAA) - A Texas couple has been reunited with their newborn nearly a month after child protective services removed the infant from their care.
The situation began with a dispute over treatment for jaundice that quickly turned into a controversy, drawing national attention.
At an emotional news conference on April 6, Rodney and Temecia Jackson talked about the successful home birth of their baby Mila.
But after a routine checkup three days later, a pediatrician recommended treatment for the infant and alerted CPS when the parents refused.
"I felt like they had stolen my baby," Temecia Jackson said.
After being removed from her home, baby Mila was in CPS custody for 22 days with her parents allowed to see her once a week.
A court hearing was scheduled for Thursday afternoon, but a CPS spokesperson said a recommendation was made for a dismissal of the case to the assistant district attorney.
And baby Mila has now been returned to her parents.
Emma Roth, a Pregnancy Justice staff attorney, says the team is relieved that the Jackson family is reunited but it doesn't undo the harm.
Roth alleges that the family's ordeal shows the trauma of the hospital-to-CPS pipeline and is something that terrorizes Black families and something that should never happen.
A spokesperson for CPS did not immediately respond to such allegations.
As for what's next?
The family's legal team says they won't get justice until everyone involved in removing Mila from her parents is held accountable.
Copyright 2023 WFAA via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
CPS Returns Newborn To Parents About A Month Later After Dispute Over Jaundice Treatment
DALLAS - A Texas couple has been reunited with their newborn nearly a month after Child Protective Services removed the infant from her parent's care.
Caption: Child Protective Services returns a Texas newborn to her parents nearly a month after removing her over a dispute about treatment for jaundice. (CNN Newsource)
It began with a dispute over treatment for jaundice and quickly turned to a story of Mila Jackson having a happy ending.
The difficulty today is getting anyone to fully explain why.
At an emotional news conference on April 6th, Rodney and Temecia Jackson talked about their successful home birth. But after a routine checkup three days later a pediatrician recommended treatment for Jaundice, and alerted CPS when the parents refused.
"Instantly I felt like they had stolen my baby as I had had a home birth," Temecia said.
Forcibly removed from her home in Desoto, Mila has been in CPS custody for 22 days. Her parents allowed her to see her just once a week.
A court hearing was supposed to happen Thursday afternoon, but a CPS spokesperson tells WFAA that "DFPS recommended dismissal of this case to the assistant district attorney, " and the baby, now 1 month old was returned to her parents today.
"Public pressure and illuminating violations of our most fundamental rights works," said Marsha Jones, Executive Director of the Afiya Center which represents the family. Jones also blames "systemic racism" for the family's plight.
Pregnancy Justice Staff Attorney Emma Roth said they are "relieved that the Jackson family will be reunited, but that doesn't undo the harm." And alleges that the "Jackson's" ordeal shows the trauma of the hospital-to-CPS pipeline, which terrorizes black families. This should never have happened."
CPS has not responded to those allegations.
As for what's next?
The family's legal team says they won't get justice until everyone involved in removing Mila from her parents is held accountable.
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