|
|
| Author: Sjona Lindquist |
| "Phototherapy" is the medical term used for treating disorders of the skin such as jaundice by using ultraviolet and infrared radiation. "Photo" is from the Greek word "photos" meaning light, and "therapy" is from the Greek word "therapies" meaning to treat medically. A premature baby often needs this special kind of light treatment because preemies are often afflicted with jaundice. Jaundice is a condition that must be treated by medical interventions such as bililights, biliblankets and exchange transfusion. If severe jaundice is left untreated, it causes brain damage to the premature baby."Jaundice" is a yellowish discoloration caused by bile salts depositing in the tissues of the whites of the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes. It is a normal process for the body to break down red blood cells creating bilirubin. However, a premature baby will develop jaundice when their bilirubin level is too high, and the immature liver of a preemie is not efficient enough to remove the bilirubin from the bloodstream. Special lights (bililights) are able to penetrate a preemie's skin and break down the bilirubin in the blood turning it into lumirubin."Phototherapy lights" (bililights) are lights specifically designed to put out wavelengths of light from the blue part of the light spectrum. The chemical reaction occurring changes bilirubin to lumirubin, and this changed from is harmless to the premature baby allowing it to pass from her body. While your premature baby is receiving phototherapy light treatments, her eyes will be covered by a mask or cloth shielding them from direct exposure to light that may not be good for her eyes. Phototherapy treatment usually lasts from a week to ten days.A "Biliblanket" is a fiber optic blanket that may be used instead of bililights and is just as effective. The biliblanket has a fiber optic pad delivering microwatts of therapeutic light, and it can be taken home to use if necessary. The advantage of using a biliblanket for your premature baby is that it allows more surface exposure to the lights, it is easier to use, eye covering is not necessary, and phototherapy is not interrupted during feeding and bonding."Exchange transfusion, substitution transfusion, or total transfusion" is the process of removing most of the blood from your premature baby's body, while at the same time substituting it with equal amounts of donor blood. When bilirubin levels are too high, it becomes very dangerous for your baby. The best course of action is to replace your premature baby's blood with donor blood with no bilirubin in it. |
Author Bio:
Sjona Lindquist
Sjona Lindquist is a mom of 6 (1 angel) and she owns and operates BabyLinq.com ~ Preemie Store. BabyLinq.com ~ Preemie Store is a resource site and specialty shop for parents of premature babies. Lindquist's daughter was stillborn from a Strep B infection due to PROM (Premature Rupture of Membranes).
In honor of her daughter, Michaela, she offers preemie support, bereavement support, and preemie clothes. Many parents of premature babies have benefited from her research, products, and her drive to providing excellence in all she does. Her desire is to relieve some of the pressure that parents of preemies face today by helping them educate themselves for this new life of parenting a premature baby.
Sjona lives in upstate South Carolina with her husband Matthew, her 2 living daughters, and her 3 sons.
|
| You can search for this article using: newborn babies, cute babies, premature babies, designer babies, celebrity babies, black babies |
|
|
 |
| |
Related Articles |
| |
Choosing Fireplace Accessories for Your Home
|
| |
Flag Display Cases
|
| |
Production and Pricing of Craft Show Items
|
| |
How Heat Pumps Work
|
| |
Help! It's Science Project Time!
|
| |
Westie Merchandise that Benefits your Dog
|
| |
Choosing Healthy Plants for Your Garden
|
| |
Time-Out: Self-Control vs. Punishment
|
| |
Teach Your Child About Money
|
| |
Jewelry As A Father's Day Gift
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Do you want a beautiful koi pond in your own backyard? Before you start building your own koi pond, ... - Anne Clarke |
| |
|
Travel scams are alive and well on the internet. The Orlando area suffers from many scammers. Don't ... - Catherine Noble |
| |
|
Life is mostly all about process. But sometimes it?s about the actual performance. And the surprises ... - Carolina Fernandez |
| |
|
|
| |
|
Every summer many dogs die needlessly from the summer heat. The best thing is to keep your dog at ho ... - Carol Stack |
| |
|
Ah, the garage sale! That little slice of suburbia that ties communities together, brings friends an ... - Helen Walters |
| |
|
Replacing your hot water heater should not require the services of a plumber, assuming you are somew ... - Owen Walcher |
| |
|
Do you feel like Clark W. Griswold trying to make a perfect holiday and stumbling through mishaps? E ... - Joanie Winberg |
| |
|
Another edition in an ongoing series. This segment covers using wiring and anchoring to shape your b ... - Steve Welker |
| |
|
| |
|
|
Site Home
