bilirubin

[Guest guest]

Martha, I am working with a family whose baby has a bilirubin count of

15 and has only pooped brown poop. She is 2 weeks old. She poops

some days and goes for about 3 without. I am teaching the mom infant

massage tomorrow and have been giving advice about her diet (although

I am not cooking for her) and options for the baby to have bowel

movements. She is exclusively breastfeeding and it is going well the

baby has a good latch and has at least 6 wet diapers a day. I know

that if the baby could poop more her bilirubin count will probably go

down. Is there anything you might add to this? Thank you, Sonya

[Guest guest]

If I may put in my .2 cents worth, The baby should be nursing every 2-3

hours and peeing 8 diapers a day. Make sure she gets the hindmilk, the fatty

part, so stay on one breast long enough to get that. Get her in the sunshine

3 times a day for a couple of minutes each time, that will really help draw

it out. I wouldn't give the baby any laxatives, or anything but breastmilk,

but possibly a glycerin suppository on the days she doesn't poop.

Sometimes the baby's blood cells can be breaking down if the baby has a

large bruise from a difficult birth or some injury around the time of birth.

Sometimes these bruises are obbvious, as when they are on the baby's face,

but sometimes they can be hidden, as when they are around the kidney. The

red cells in the bruise are dead and will break down to form bilirubin.

other reasons for high bilirubin could be infants of diabetic mothers have

immature livers, or an underactive thyroid. Sometimes infections of the

blood or urine are associated with jaundice. If she was pooping more often

the bilirubin in the intestines woldn't be getting reabsorbed. I think that

the baby is not getting enough milk even though she seems to be nursing ok.

How's the weight. If it were a liver disease the urine would be brownish.

When the baby is getting enough milk, the jaundice will decrease. Have the

mom pump once a day (or more if she can) and really empty her breasts and

give that to the baby in a bottle. Even sugar water would be better than any

formula (But not honey) Of course rule abo incompatibility. If the baby is

pretty sleepy still, get more milk into her and she will wake up. Have the

dr. rule out galactosemia, a metabolic disease. it is rare, though.

The most important thing to remember is that breastfeeding need never be

interrupted. Vicky

 

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sonyabastow

06/03/05 18:52:41

ayurveda

bilirubin

 

Martha, I am working with a family whose baby has a bilirubin count of

15 and has only pooped brown poop. She is 2 weeks old. She poops

some days and goes for about 3 without. I am teaching the mom infant

massage tomorrow and have been giving advice about her diet (although

I am not cooking for her) and options for the baby to have bowel

movements. She is exclusively breastfeeding and it is going well the

baby has a good latch and has at least 6 wet diapers a day. I know

that if the baby could poop more her bilirubin count will probably go

down. Is there anything you might add to this? Thank you, Sonya