I know how scary that is because our first grandson had the same thing, but he wasn't a preemie. I found out it's pretty common for some reason I can't figure out. Hope Amber and Mike can get some rest. It's very hard to wake up every two hours for feeding. Glad you're close and able to help them.

Two of my kids were under lights for jaundice. My son, who was several weeks early, spent a week at Hershey Medical Center under lights, and required a blood transfusion because his bilirubin was so high. When we brought him home they told us to keep him by a sunny window for a while.

Being under the lights is hard on mother and baby, but hopefully treatment won't be needed for long.

Yes, this is not uncommon, but I know you will be happy when everyone is home together. I'll tell you, the title of your post scared me a little! Glad it's something easily "fixed."

We had this happen with a couple of our grandkids. The nurses took wonderful care of them during all of it. Sounds like she is doing well. Sometimes I think it is harder on Mom and Dad then the babies. It is great that you are there to help.

I just sent you an email.

I hope she gets rid of it soon. A friend of sh's baby had jaundice and at our hospital, they don't have the "tent".
they wrap the baby in a lighted blanket. so much nicer!

My first daughter was born just 2 weeks early, she had jaundice and required light treatments. Because she couldn't go home, I had to stay in the hospital to (breast) feed her. She's now 22, big, strong healthy and smart. As well as a smart mouth sometimes. Good luck to baby Alyssa.

Both of our grandsons had been jaundiced. 1)They both came early, 2)my DD has the wrong blood type and thus there is an RH negative situation, 3)the eldest did not nurse as well as he should have at first. All of those things contribute to jaundice, which is caused by the baby's body not flushing out the bilirubin in their system fast enough. Thank goodness for modern medicine.

I went through this too with dd1, though they caught it before they sent her home. She only had to stay a day and we were pleasantly surprised when they told us we could take her home the next day. Yes, I laid her out in the sunshine (in the house,) no clothes nor diaper. (I'm sure I turned the heat up too.) Lots of frequent nursing helped too. She'll be home before you know it! Amber and her husband are so very lucky to have you, Marilyn Sue!

We went thru this with one of my GD's Had to stay in the hospital about a week. Another thing to watch for is if she is nursing, make sure the milk is enough. At that weight, it is critical to watch their weight. Also watch the amount of milk if bottles, and watch the diapers. If they are NOT wet, notify the dr immediately. Is she bottle fed? If so how much each time and what brand. My DD was trying to feed every two hours and it simply did not work as her milk was not rich enough. I picked up the baby when she was about 10 days old, and it scarred the H out of me as she felt like a feather. I said enough and gave her a bottle--with Daddy's ok and she drank almost 4 oz, that slept about 4 hours After that it was ok..Then another 3 oz and boy was that diaper wet.
The Dr said I did the right thing.

Just saw on The Doctors show why this happens. Babies are born with more blood than they need and a component of the blood is yellow and turns the baby yellow. As someone said, its common, but if it remains then you need the sun or light to help. If it is bad enough, they do a transfusion and actually remove some of the blood and replace it with saline solution. They also said it was very important for the baby to eat well during this time as it helps with the jaundice.