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What Does Yellow Discoloration On A 4 Day Old Infant Suggest?
Question: How should we measure the yellowness of our baby. On his 4th day, he started showing signs of yellowness .
A bilirubin test indicated it was 8.8 on the 4th day. This was normal according to the doctor.
His yellowness has increased a bit today (5th day).
Our succor time is that the bilirubin increases until the 8th day and would then decrease. In such a a situation, how do we monitor the possibility of jaundice.
A bilirubin test indicated it was 8.8 on the 4th day. This was normal according to the doctor.
His yellowness has increased a bit today (5th day).
Our succor time is that the bilirubin increases until the 8th day and would then decrease. In such a a situation, how do we monitor the possibility of jaundice.
Brief Answer:
Levels are acceptable
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on Health care magic.
Before the birth the baby has a hemoglobin level higher than the mother so that it can extract oxygen from the mother 's blood. This extra hemoglobin is no longer needed afterbirth and breaks down to produces bilirubin. The acceptable range varies with day of life and weight in kg. The stated level is acceptable and needs no monitoring. Still if the yellowishness reaches the sole of feet you will need to visit a doctor and get the level evaluated.
Regards
Levels are acceptable
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on Health care magic.
Before the birth the baby has a hemoglobin level higher than the mother so that it can extract oxygen from the mother 's blood. This extra hemoglobin is no longer needed afterbirth and breaks down to produces bilirubin. The acceptable range varies with day of life and weight in kg. The stated level is acceptable and needs no monitoring. Still if the yellowishness reaches the sole of feet you will need to visit a doctor and get the level evaluated.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Hi,
Our baby who is now 10 days old has been showing slight signs of crankiness. He tries to drink milk for long hours without sleeping. While drinking milk, as he is being pulled out when he falls asleep he immediately wakes up and starts sucking vigorously. This sometimes goes on for more than 2 hours. We are worried that this is effecting his sleep cycle as he will end up sleeping less. He has also lately developed a preference to roll to the side while stretching in sleep and sleep on his side. We always put him to the back as we have read about the risks. He also doesn't like being swaddled and likes to two his hands outside the blanket.
In addition, we have also noticed that his bowel moments have come down from about 5 to 3 a day. Many a times, he farts which leaves a small patch of poop on his diaper. We were wondering if he is suffering from cholic and this is what is making his irritated.
Would appreciate your help on this.
Our baby who is now 10 days old has been showing slight signs of crankiness. He tries to drink milk for long hours without sleeping. While drinking milk, as he is being pulled out when he falls asleep he immediately wakes up and starts sucking vigorously. This sometimes goes on for more than 2 hours. We are worried that this is effecting his sleep cycle as he will end up sleeping less. He has also lately developed a preference to roll to the side while stretching in sleep and sleep on his side. We always put him to the back as we have read about the risks. He also doesn't like being swaddled and likes to two his hands outside the blanket.
In addition, we have also noticed that his bowel moments have come down from about 5 to 3 a day. Many a times, he farts which leaves a small patch of poop on his diaper. We were wondering if he is suffering from cholic and this is what is making his irritated.
Would appreciate your help on this.
Brief Answer:
Explained in detail.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. Sorry for not being able to respond faster.
Let me emphasize on the fact that breast milk is the best possible milk for a baby and there can be no alternatives for the same. When the child sucks from the mother, it does not merely seek the milk, it seeks a personal touch as well. The mentioned pattern of sucking is entirely normal and you need not worry about the sleep cycles of the baby. A breast is unlikely to provide milk more than 20 mins. The rest is simply dry suckling or non-nutritive suckling where the suck simply attaches the child to the mother. You need not worry. All you need to do is to monitor the urine output. If the frequency is more than 6 times in 24 hours, you would know that the amount of feeding is adequate. If the amount of passage of urine is less or if the child is lethargic you would need to take the child to a doctor without delay.
For a baby of this age, it is normal to pass stool several times a day or even after each feed. Alternatively the child may pass stool once in 10 days and that is normal too. Unless the stool is hard and pellet like, you need not grow concerned. It is also normal to pass green stool or a combination of yellow stool. The green colour occurs due to rapid transit through large intestine where the bile pigments do not get adequate time to convert to the yellow colour of stool. It is OK for some mucus to be there in the stool.
Breast milk also takes care of immunity against common ailments like cough and cold, and diarrhea. So, automatically your worries would be reduced. For a baby of this age, it is normal to pass stool several times a day or even after each feed. Alternatively the child may pass stool once in 10 days and that is normal too. Unless the stool is hard and pellet like, you need not grow concerned. You need not use suppositories but in case you use, it would not be harmful.
You should burp the baby for at least 15-20 mins after each feed. All you need to do is to hold the baby head end elevated for this duration. The extra air taken in would escape and the milk will not regurgitate back from the stomach to the food pipe. It is this extra air that causes distension and therefore colic.
Let me know if you have further queries.
Regards
Explained in detail.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. Sorry for not being able to respond faster.
Let me emphasize on the fact that breast milk is the best possible milk for a baby and there can be no alternatives for the same. When the child sucks from the mother, it does not merely seek the milk, it seeks a personal touch as well. The mentioned pattern of sucking is entirely normal and you need not worry about the sleep cycles of the baby. A breast is unlikely to provide milk more than 20 mins. The rest is simply dry suckling or non-nutritive suckling where the suck simply attaches the child to the mother. You need not worry. All you need to do is to monitor the urine output. If the frequency is more than 6 times in 24 hours, you would know that the amount of feeding is adequate. If the amount of passage of urine is less or if the child is lethargic you would need to take the child to a doctor without delay.
For a baby of this age, it is normal to pass stool several times a day or even after each feed. Alternatively the child may pass stool once in 10 days and that is normal too. Unless the stool is hard and pellet like, you need not grow concerned. It is also normal to pass green stool or a combination of yellow stool. The green colour occurs due to rapid transit through large intestine where the bile pigments do not get adequate time to convert to the yellow colour of stool. It is OK for some mucus to be there in the stool.
Breast milk also takes care of immunity against common ailments like cough and cold, and diarrhea. So, automatically your worries would be reduced. For a baby of this age, it is normal to pass stool several times a day or even after each feed. Alternatively the child may pass stool once in 10 days and that is normal too. Unless the stool is hard and pellet like, you need not grow concerned. You need not use suppositories but in case you use, it would not be harmful.
You should burp the baby for at least 15-20 mins after each feed. All you need to do is to hold the baby head end elevated for this duration. The extra air taken in would escape and the milk will not regurgitate back from the stomach to the food pipe. It is this extra air that causes distension and therefore colic.
Let me know if you have further queries.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Dr.
We have noticed that even if he continues sucking for extensive hours, the breast continues to leak milk. Hence, we are sure that he is getting milk throughout his sucking.
Further two questions remain unanswered.
First, is it ok for his sleep to suffer on account of the extensive sucking.
Second, is it ok for the baby to sleep on his side. Would appreciate of you could read our query details once again and respond.
Thanks.
We have noticed that even if he continues sucking for extensive hours, the breast continues to leak milk. Hence, we are sure that he is getting milk throughout his sucking.
Further two questions remain unanswered.
First, is it ok for his sleep to suffer on account of the extensive sucking.
Second, is it ok for the baby to sleep on his side. Would appreciate of you could read our query details once again and respond.
Thanks.
Brief Answer:
Questions answered one by one
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for wriiting back.
Oozing drops of milk is not same as having a sufficient flow. How about an answer of two words each time you ask a question (or a follow up)? Would it be worth the expenditure? Energy is spent while sucking. If the child sucks on, the milk obtained would not match the energy spent to extract it. The choice is yours.
Coming to your questions
* It would not affect his sleep.
* Sleeping on side would not harm.
Regards
Questions answered one by one
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for wriiting back.
Oozing drops of milk is not same as having a sufficient flow. How about an answer of two words each time you ask a question (or a follow up)? Would it be worth the expenditure? Energy is spent while sucking. If the child sucks on, the milk obtained would not match the energy spent to extract it. The choice is yours.
Coming to your questions
* It would not affect his sleep.
* Sleeping on side would not harm.
Regards
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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