Maryland Jaundice Lawyer
Babies can suffer from a variety of birth complications. One of them is jaundice, which refers to a yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes. Infant jaundice occurs when the blood contains an excess amount of bilirubin, which is a yellow pigment of red blood cells. It is particularly common in preterm babies (born before 38 weeks gestation) as well as some breast-fed babies.
Infant jaundice typically occurs when a baby’s liver fails to get rid of bilirubin in the bloodstream. An underlying disease may also cause jaundice. Jaundice usually does not require treatment, but if a baby has an unusually high blood level of bilirubin, a newborn could suffer brain damage.
If your doctor failed to monitor your baby’s jaundice and the issue got worse, seek legal help from the Maryland jaundice lawyers at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman. We’ll help hold the doctor liable for their negligence.
Causes of Jaundice
Excess bilirubin is the main cause of jaundice. Jaundice is common in babies because they produce more bilirubin than adults. Normally, the liver filters bilirubin from the body and releases it into the intestinal tract. However, a newborn’s liver may not be mature enough to remove bilirubin quickly, causing an excess of bilirubin. This is normal and can cause jaundice to appear when the baby is 2-3 days old.
There are also diseases or medical conditions that can cause jaundice, such as:
- Internal bleeding
- Blood infection such as sepsis
- Viral or bacterial infections
- Incompatibility between the mother’s blood and the baby’s blood
- Abnormal red blood cells
- Liver malfunction
- Enzyme deficiency
Some risk factors include:
- Premature birth
- Significant bruising during birth
- Breastfeeding
- Race
When Jaundice is Serious
The following symptoms could mean a serious issue. Contact your doctor if:
- Your baby’s skin becomes yellower.
- The baby’s arms or legs look yellow.
- The whites of your baby’s eyes look yellow.
- It’s hard to wake up your baby.
- Your baby seems listless or sick.
- Your baby is feeding poorly.
- Your baby isn’t gaining weight.
- Your baby makes high-pitched cries.
The best way to prevent infant jaundice is to feed your baby adequately. Breast-fed infants should have 8-12 feedings a day, while formula-fed infants should have 1 to 2 ounces of formula every 2-3 hours.
When jaundice is serious, it can be treated with phototherapy, or light therapy. This involves placing your baby under a special lamp that changes the shape and structure of bilirubin molecules so that they can be excreted in the urine and stool.
Contact Us Today
While jaundice typically resolves itself on its own, there are situations in which complications can occur. In some cases, a baby could even develop brain damage.
Jaundice can become a serious issue if not properly monitored by a medical professional. Hold them liable for the damages with help from a medical malpractice lawsuit. Contact the personal injury attorneys at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman today to schedule a free consultation. Call us at (410) 567-0800.
