Patient's question:
Bilirubin level measured to be around 17, with poor effect after 96 hours of blue light exposure. Currently, drinking Chen Hong Jujube Water 2-3 times daily for about two weeks, bilirubin has dropped to around 9. Can mothers drink Chen Hong Jujube Water to speed up the treatment of neonatal jaundice?Doctor's answer:
Hello, normal newborns typically develop jaundice two days after birth, reaching its peak within a week, and it gradually fades within ten days, which is considered physiological jaundice. If the jaundice index is too high or the duration is prolonged, it is classified as pathological jaundice and may require treatments such as blue light therapy to reduce bilirubin levels. If the baby is breastfed, blue light therapy may not be as effective in reducing jaundice, suggesting it could be breast milk jaundice. In this case, the mother taking Yinzhihuang (a traditional Chinese medicine) may not be very effective. It is recommended to stop breastfeeding, continue blue light therapy, and undergo further tests to check for viral infections or other causes of hyperbilirubinemia.