The birth of crumbs is a huge joy for parents. However, sometimes, especially when it comes to the first-born, it can be overshadowed by a change in the color of the skin and mucous membranes of the child. The phenomenon known as neonatal jaundice is common enough, so those who should soon have a baby should learn more about it.
Causes
The appearance of jaundice in newborns is absolutely normal. Such a phenomenon is observed if, in the blood of crumbs, due to erythrocyte decays, the bilirubin content exceeds the norm. It should be understood that, in addition to its own blood cells, the body of the newborn has to process the residual red blood cells of the mother. Thus, the load becomes significant, and as a result, an excess of bilirubin accumulates, which leads to yellowing of the eye sclera and skin of the baby. Moreover, the child has no other pathologies, he is considered healthy, and he does not need treatment.
Physiological form
Usually, changes in the appearance of the baby are observed 2-5 days after his birth and disappear at 2 weeks of life. At the same time, it is possible to contribute to the speedy disappearance of the symptoms of physiological jaundice, if more often put crumbs to the chest. This will speed up the release of primordial feces - meconium, with which excess bilirubin is removed from the body. In addition, it is recommended more often to walk with the baby in the fresh air.
Physiological neonatal jaundice of the newborn: causes
As already mentioned, the natural color of the skin and mucous membranes is usually restored by 10-14 days of life. Otherwise, neonatal jaundice is diagnosed. Its cause may be:
- prematurity of the child;
- bilirubin hyperproduction;
- enzymatic immaturity of liver cells;
- decreased ability of blood serum to bilirubin.
- pathological neonatal jaundice (prolonged).
The disease can be congenital and acquired.
In the first case, neonatal jaundice can be a consequence of:
- The pathology of the membrane of red blood cells. This disease sometimes appears already in the neonatal period. Over time, the spleen and liver increase, and later anemia develops.
- Erythrocyte Enzyme Deficiency. In this case, jaundice occurs on the second day of life. One of the signs is a dark urine.
- Defective synthesis and structure of hemoglobin and heme. Appears at 4-6 months of the baby's life.
Acquired pathological neonatal jaundice is of three types:
- hemolytic disease of the newborn, which is the result of an immunological conflict between fetal blood and maternal blood;
- hemorrhage in the internal organs, or cephalohematoma, when resolving which the hemoglobin decomposition products enter the blood;
- a number of other reasons, such as an increase in the content of red blood cells in the blood of a child, a syndrome that develops when blood enters the baby’s gastrointestinal tract during childbirth, the mother has an immunopathological disease, drug hemolysis, etc.
Treatment
As with physiological jaundice, babies are often recommended to breastfeed and take out to fresh air. In addition, if the child has neonatal jaundice, then the phototherapy method is used. It consists in irradiating the crumbs with a photolamp. Under its rays, an accelerated decay of bilirubin occurs in his body, and then it is excreted from the body with urine and feces.
The procedure is as follows:
- the child is completely undressed (if it is a boy, a bandage is applied to the genitals) and placed in a special box for newborns;
- eyes are closed with an opaque mask on an elastic band;
- irradiation is carried out for at least 2-3 hours, interrupted by feeding;
- From time to time, the child is turned over so that the photobrains have access to all areas of the skin.
In especially serious cases, when the level of bilirubin is critically high, the session is carried out continuously. At the same time, blood is taken for analysis every hour. The procedure is stopped only when studies show a satisfactory result for bilirubin.
Contraindication to the continuation of phototherapy is redness of the skin. However, such phenomena are extremely rare.
OZPK
In severe cases, treatment of neonatal jaundice can be done by replacement transfusion surgery. Indications for the use of this method are:
- unsatisfactory results of laboratory studies of the level of bilirubin in umbilical cord blood at the time of birth and its constant increase even against the background of phototherapy, etc.
- proven sensitization in the mother and signs of severe hemolytic disease of the newborn in her child;
- the appearance of symptoms of bilirubin intoxication in the baby.
Doctors select blood components for transfusion strictly individually for a particular baby and taking into account the type of incompatibility of the blood of the mother and the child. In addition, OZPK is performed only after a successful compatibility test by means of a catheter inserted into the umbilical vein. At the same time, you should know that even with the right material for the operation and strict adherence to sterility, various complications are not excluded. For example, an air embolism, a malfunction of the heart, infection, thrombosis, anaphylactic shock, etc. can be observed. As a rule, they appear within the first 3 hours after OZPK, so all this time the medical staff must strictly monitor the condition of the baby.
Other methods
Treatment can also be carried out using medicines and infusion therapy. In the first case, "Zixorin", agar-agar, "Karbolen" and "Cholestyramine" are prescribed, which contribute to the release of the intestines from bilirubin. Cholagogue is also prescribed. As for infusion therapy, it is carried out with sodium chloride and glucose solutions, and with a reduced protein level, an albumin solution is used.
Prevention
Neonatal jaundice, the causes of which are described above, is most likely not to occur or its symptoms will disappear faster if the following measures are taken.
- immediately after birth, the baby should be attached to the mother’s breast;
- undress the baby and leave lying on the diaper naked until half an hour;
- breastfeed upon request;
- from the first days to walk with the child in the fresh air;
- feed the baby from each breast for at least 7-10 minutes;
- if the baby refuses to suck, then mother's milk should be expressed and given to him from a spoon.
Now you know what neonatal jaundice is. Symptoms of various forms of this disease are described above, therefore, having noticed their signs, you can immediately show the baby to the doctor and not lose precious time.