What nursing interventions are required during phototherapy?
During phototherapy neonates require ongoing monitoring of:
- adequacy of hydration (urine output) and nutrition(weight gain)
- temperature.
- clinical improvement in jaundice.
- TSB or SBR levels.
- potential signs of bilirubin encephalopathy.
How do you care for a baby under phototherapy?
Your baby’s temperature should be between 98°F (36.7°C) and 100°F (37.8°C) during phototherapy. Take your baby’s temperature by holding the thermometer under your baby’s armpit (axillary temperature). start therapy or after a 1-hour break. – Take their temperature before phototherapy.
How do I prepare my newborn for phototherapy?
How do I give my newborn phototherapy at home?
- Keep the room warm.
- Turn on the phototherapy lights.
- Undress your newborn except for his or her diaper.
- Place your newborn under, or on, the lights as directed.
- Comfort your newborn during treatment.
- Take your newborn’s temperature every 3 to 4 hours.
What can I expect after phototherapy?
You may have redness, itching, or a burning sensation after your phototherapy treatment. These are all normal side effects of this therapy. Phototherapy can dry out your skin. Moisturize your skin with a fragrance-free moisturizer, such as Aquaphor® or Cetaphil®, at least once a day.
How do you take care of a baby in an incubator?
Nursing care Pre-warmed to a temperature appropriate to the infant’s age, size and condition. Use in Air mode and must always be switched on with the motor running if in use for a baby. Check and record the incubator temperature hourly. Position away from draughts or direct sunlight.
How does phototherapy help with jaundice?
Phototherapy is treatment with a special type of light (not sunlight). It’s sometimes used to treat newborn jaundice by lowering the bilirubin levels in your baby’s blood through a process called photo-oxidation. Photo-oxidation adds oxygen to the bilirubin so it dissolves easily in water.
How do you know phototherapy is working?
The bilirubin level will usually decrease every day with the treatment. The phototherapy may sometimes cause your baby to have brown coloured urine and loose brown/green bowel motions. These are signs that the treatment is working and the bilirubin level is decreasing.
How long can a baby stay under phototherapy?
There are no specific guidelines for when to discontinue phototherapy. Evidence of hemolysis and age of the infant will impact the duration. In some cases, phototherapy will only be needed for 24 hours or less, in some cases, it may be required for 5 to 7 days.
When to start phototherapy?
Phototherapy for neonatal jaundice. Introduction This guideline applies to neonates within the first two weeks of life. Phototherapy is the use of visible light to treat severe jaundice in the neonatal period.
Why are some babies treated with Bili lights?
It almost looks like the babies are in some kind of weird blue tanning bed. Those blue beams are called bili lights, and they help prevent newborns from getting brain damage or other complications from a condition known as newborn jaundice .
How does phototherapy cure jaundice?
Phototherapy is treatment with a special type of light (not sunlight). It’s sometimes used to treat newborn jaundice by lowering the bilirubin levels in your baby’s blood through a process called photo-oxidation. Photo-oxidation adds oxygen to the bilirubin so it dissolves easily in water.
What is phototherapy NICU?
Phototherapy lights (often called bililights) are used in the NICU to treat a condition called jaundice. Jaundice is a condition where too much bilirubin in the blood turns your baby’s skin and the whites of his eyes yellow.