Nursing Care for Newborns with Jaundice

Newborn jaundice, also known as neonatal jaundice, is a common condition that affects nearly 60% of newborns.

This condition manifests as a yellow discolouration of the skin and the whites of the eyes and is caused by an excess of bilirubin in the blood.

Bilirubin is a yellow pigment produced during the breakdown of red blood cells. While mild jaundice in newborns is often harmless, it can sometimes necessitate medical intervention.

Causes of Newborn Jaundice

There are several reasons why a newborn might develop jaundice:

Physiological jaundice:
Due to the immaturity of the baby’s liver, it cannot effectively process bilirubin.
Breastfeeding jaundice:
Caused by inadequate breastfeeding leading to dehydration.
Blood group incompatibility:
Occurs when the baby’s blood type is different from the mother’s.
Premature birth:
Premature babies are at higher risk because their livers are even less mature.

Symptoms and Diagnosis Newborns with Jaundice

The most noticeable symptom of jaundice is the yellowing of the skin and eyes.

Doctors diagnose jaundice through a physical examination and by measuring the bilirubin levels in the baby’s blood.

A high level of bilirubin in the blood will often confirm the diagnosis.

Nursing Care for Jaundiced Newborns

Caring for a newborn with jaundice requires attentive nursing care. Below is a table summarizing key nursing interventions:

Intervention	Description
Regular Feeding	Ensure the baby is breastfed or bottle-fed every 2-3 hours to help eliminate bilirubin.
Phototherapy	Use of special lights to break down bilirubin in the baby’s skin.
Monitoring Bilirubin Levels	Frequent blood tests to monitor bilirubin levels and assess the effectiveness of treatments.
Hydration	Maintaining adequate fluid levels to help flush out excess bilirubin.
Parental Education	Inform parents about jaundice, its causes, and treatments available.