5 Easy Remedies that Can Help with Infant Jaundice

Among the many conditions that can affect newborns, infant jaundice is one of the most common causes of infant morbidity worldwide. Also known as neonatal jaundice or hyperbilirubinemia, this condition’s early symptoms can be seen as early as two to three weeks after the baby’s birth. The most visible symptoms are the yellowing of the skin and the white parts of the eyes due to the higher bilirubin levels in the baby’s blood. 

Thankfully, most mild to moderate cases of infant jaundice can be treated with some easy remedies. There are even some ways to treat this condition that medical resources such as Mediko.Ph will recommend you do at home. Here are just five of them:

More Frequent Breastfeeding

Let’s start with the easiest thing you can do: breastfeed your baby more often. This is one of the simplest ways to help flush the excess bilirubin from your baby’s system. After all, breastfeeding will allow for more frequent urination and bowel movement. And if you’re having issues with breastfeeding, you can compensate instead by increasing the amount of formula milk during each feeding.  This brings us to our next point.

Consider Supplementing with Formula

Sometimes, sticking solely to breastfeeding can only do so much to help bring your baby back to good health. In certain cases, you should consider supplementing breastfeeding with formula milk. However, this should also ideally done with the advice of a doctor. In some cases, it might also be possible for a doctor to recommend a pause in breastfeeding until the baby’s condition sees improvement.

More Sunlight for Your Baby

Another easy way to remedy infant jaundice is to give your baby more time under the sun. Indeed, more sun exposure can help reduce the amount of bilirubin in your baby’s blood. For this method, it’s best to leave your baby out in the sun between 7 and 8 in the morning. And for the best results, your newborn should also be as bare as possible, wearing only diapers. This is to best maximize the amount of absorbed sunlight throughout your baby’s body. 

Have Some Tomato Juice

Because tomatoes are rich in lycopene, they are good for helping provide relief with conditions that affect the blood. However, it may not be the best idea to directly feed your baby tomato juice. Instead, it’s a better idea for the breastfeeding mother to drink it frequently. This way, the tomato juice’s healthy nutrients can make it through to the baby’s body naturally through each feeding.

Mix Wheatgrass Juice into the Formula

Similar to tomato juice, wheatgrass juice can also be helpful when it comes to remedying cases of infant jaundice. This is because wheatgrass has been observed to have hepatoprotective properties in some studies. For babies who are being breastfed, it’s more ideal for the mother to frequently drink wheatgrass juice. However, a few drops can also alternatively be mixed into formula milk because of its milder taste and potent nutrients. 

 

In spite of being a common and sometimes deadly condition among newborn babies throughout the world, infant jaundice can luckily be addressed with some simple home remedies. From more frequent breastfeeding and more sun exposure to the use of supplements and formula, there are definitely ways to address it without having to go back to the hospital. However, more severe cases may occur where you might not see improvements in your baby’s condition within a reasonable time period.  If your baby’s health doesn’t improve or continues to worsen, consult with a pediatrician as soon as possible. 

 

References

https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/top-10-home-remedies-for-jaundice-in-newborns/

https://www.functionalfoodscenter.net/files/49461571.pdf

https://maternova.net/blogs/news/why-does-neonatal-jaundice-continue-to-persist