What happens when a newborn baby has jaundice?
Physiologic jaundice is usually seen around the second or third day of life. The nurse or doctor caring for the baby will notice it and may request a blood test. Based on the results of the test and based on the general condition of the baby, the doctor will decide whether treatment should be started. If no treatment is felt necessary, the jaundice will usually decrease after a week and disappear within two weeks. If treatment is required, commonly a Bililight is used. This treatment is also known as phototherapy. Another name for the light is a Bilirubin Reduction Light. What is a Bililight and why is it used? A Bililight consists of a series of fluorescent lights that are placed over the baby’s bed. The light helps the baby to get rid of bilirubin found just beneath the surface of the skin. It does this by changing the structure of the bilirubin, thereby making it easier to be excreted by the liver. How is the Bililight used? How long is it used? The Bililight is placed over the baby
