Question
My baby is a preemie, and I have been worried about his health since birth. Recently, he has shown some unusual symptoms, which have made me even more anxious, fearing that the situation might worsen. I would like to ask, is a jaundice level of 20.3 within the normal range for a preemie, and is this condition severe?
Answer
Hello, based on your description, the common cause of pathological jaundice in babies is often breastfeeding jaundice. Treatment for this condition usually takes about 7 days. Your baby has already received 3 days of treatment, but it’s still possible for him to exhibit jaundice symptoms. It is recommended to continue with phototherapy to reduce the jaundice level. If necessary, you may need to temporarily stop breastfeeding for 3 days. As for newborn hearing screening, I haven’t heard of this test before. Typically, hospitals schedule a follow-up visit around 45 days after the baby’s birth. If the hearing screening has not passed at the follow-up visit, it can generally be diagnosed as a hearing problem. At this point, a comprehensive hearing test should be conducted at the hospital to determine the extent of your baby’s hearing loss. After diagnosis, the doctor will provide appropriate intervention methods based on your baby’s specific condition, such as wearing hearing aids or undergoing cochlear implant surgery.