Benefits of Phototherapy for Yellow Babies

Phototherapy or light therapy, including the most common treatment options used to treat yellow babies due to high bilirubin levels in the newborn's body. This treatment utilizes artificial ultraviolet light to reduce the baby's bilirubin levels. Yellow baby or in medical language known as jaundice is a condition where the baby is born to appear yellow on the skin and the whites of the eyes (sclera). Usually, yellow in babies can appear around the third day after birth and disappear when the baby is two weeks old. Premature babies are generally more vulnerable to this condition. The most effective and common treatments used to treat yellow babies are phototherapy and blood transfusion.

Causes of Yellow Babies in Need of Phototherapy

Yellow babies are mostly caused by baby's organs not being able to get rid of excess bilirubin properly. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment that is in the blood and stool in everyone. Yellow babies can not be considered trivial, because if not treated immediately, the possibility of life threatening your baby. Some of the things that cause yellow babies, namely the existence of problems in the liver function of babies, babies who are breastfed and who do not get enough milk, blood cell disorders, the mismatch of blood types between mother and baby, and the presence of infection. Changes in skin color can be more difficult to recognize if your baby has a darker skin color. However, the yellow color will be clearer in some parts of the baby's body, for example in the whites of the eyes, in the mouth, also in the palms and soles of your baby's feet. Other signs include, babies who are often sleepy, often cry, weak, dark yellow urine when it should be clear to light yellow, and pale stools (should be yellowish).

The Procedure for Phototherapy for Yellow Babies

Generally, babies who are yellow or jaundice require phototherapy treatment using ultraviolet light. This phototherapy is a safe treatment and does not damage the baby's skin. The two types of phototherapy, including:

• Conventional phototherapy

Namely phototherapy treatment where your baby is placed under a halogen lamp or ultraviolet fluorescent light, so that light can be absorbed by the body through the skin. The baby's eyes are closed to protect the nerve lining of the eye from exposure to ultraviolet light.

• Fiber optic phototherapy

Namely phototherapy treatment where there is an optical fiber cable on the blanket that the baby uses to lie down. Exposure to light is channeled through the cable to the back of the baby. This treatment is generally used more often if your baby is born prematurely.

Both types of phototherapy have the same goal, namely to make the baby's skin get as much exposure to light as possible. Both types of phototherapy will usually be stopped for 30 minutes every 3-4 hours, so you can breastfeed your baby, change his diaper, or just hug him. Before doing phototherapy, there are a number of things that you should pay attention to. Among them:

• All baby clothes need to be removed, so that the baby's skin is exposed to as much artificial UV light as possible.
• The baby's eyes must be closed to protect the nerve lining of the eye (retina) from exposure to light.
• Bilirubin levels are checked at least once a day. At least every 4-6 hours after the phototherapy process begins. Once the bilirubin level has decreased, your baby will be examined every 6-12 hours.
• Your baby will still be given milk or milk during this therapy.
• During treatment, your baby's temperature will be monitored to make sure it is not too hot and will be checked for signs of dehydration. If you are dehydrated, your child will probably need intravenous fluids (infusions).

Handling using phototherapy will be stopped after bilirubin levels drop to safe levels, and this phototherapy usually takes 1-2 days. Although phototherapy is highly recommended for treating yellow babies, but in certain circumstances, this phototherapy may cause side effects on your baby. These side effects include dehydration, diarrhea, and the appearance of skin rashes that will disappear once therapy or treatment is stopped. Phototherapy does not have to be done in a hospital, because you can do it at home. However, you must understand correctly how to use all equipment related to the treatment in accordance with the doctor's recommendations. It is important to pay attention to the condition of the newborn baby, including the color of his skin, if it appears yellowing within a few days of birth, do not hesitate to take him to the doctor immediately.