Question
What is the issue with a newborn having jaundice and vomiting? My son is three days old and his bilirubin level has risen from 7 to 16. He is currently in the hospital. His jaundice was already high when he was with me. The doctor called this afternoon to say he had vomited five times in the afternoon. My son’s head was stuck in the pelvis at birth, and it was extracted using forceps, which caused a hematoma inside his head. What could be the cause of this situation? Although a brain CT hasn’t been done yet, all other checks have been normal. Now, my son wants to eat but has to vomit, and he is hungry, which makes me very worried.
Answer
Condition Analysis: Hello, the sudden severe vomiting in your child suggests two possibilities: 1) indigestion with gastrointestinal infection, which is common in babies who swallowed a large amount of amniotic fluid at birth. 2) intracranial hemorrhage, brain edema, and increased intracranial pressure. Your baby had birth asphyxia and oxygen deficiency, so both gastrointestinal infection and intracranial hypertension are possible. A scalp hematoma in your baby can be checked with a brain CT or MRI. It is recommended to do it early. Guidance: It is recommended to have a brain CT or cranial MRI examination early on to clearly determine if there is any intracranial condition with inflammation and receive timely treatment.