Question
Can my baby undergo blue light therapy now that she has elevated jaundice? My baby is a premature infant and her jaundice level is now 162. She is currently undergoing blue light therapy at the hospital. Will it be effective? The doctor said it might not be effective and we might need to discontinue it. It’s really distressing. I hope to receive your assistance. Previous Treatment and Effectiveness: No previous treatment has been administered. Desired Assistance: I mainly want to know how serious my baby’s condition is, how high the risk of discontinuation is, and whether a blood transfusion would interfere with my baby. Thank you!
Answer
Typically, newborns can show slightly yellow skin within two days of birth, which reaches its peak between 3 to 5 days and should disappear within 7 to 10 days. At this point, the jaundice index is generally not over 257, indicating physiological jaundice. Your baby, being premature, is more prone to developing jaundice again and is susceptible to kernicterus. Her jaundice level of 162 is not particularly high; blue light therapy should be sufficient for complete recovery, and there’s usually no need for discontinuation of treatment.