Question
22-year-old female inquires: My baby’s newborn jaundice level is 15.6 on the third day of birth, is it severe? We have had hemolytic issues before. The phototherapy is too expensive, how should we handle it?
Answer
Babies typically experience a rise in jaundice levels around the third day after birth, which usually returns to normal within two weeks. Since your baby is only three days old, the jaundice level is within the normal range. The slight yellowing of the whites of your baby’s eyes does not necessarily indicate severity. You can keep the mouth moist by feeding glucose water. If the jaundice level remains above the hospital’s requirements ten days after birth, blue light therapy may be necessary.