Question
What should I do if my newborn keeps crying and can’t sleep? My baby is just 24 days old and has been crying and not sleeping all day today. The stools are yellow, grainy like rice. He just came back from the hospital where he had a high level of jaundice, around 23, and stayed for 6 days. He was given some medicine.
Answer
High jaundice does not have a direct relationship with the baby’s crying. Newborns’ liver enzyme systems are not yet fully developed, so the bilirubin produced cannot be decomposed in time. Additionally, the sterile intestines of newborns can also affect the decomposition and metabolism of bilirubin. The combined effect of these factors causes the bilirubin in the newborn’s blood to continuously increase, leading to recurrent jaundice. Normal jaundice usually fades within two weeks after birth, but your baby’s jaundice has lasted a bit longer, so you should consider whether it is pathological jaundice. The yellow, grainy stools might indicate indigestion or catching a cold, which can be treated and nourished by taking probiotics orJianpi San(spleen-nourishing powder). Massaging your baby’s abdomen, giving them more water, ensuring warmth, and exposing them to more sunlight are also recommended. These are the suggestions for the issue of “my baby is 24 days old and has been crying and not sleeping today,” hoping they will be helpful to you. Wishing you and your baby health!