phototherapy can bring down 23 bilirubin

[brkdxb]

I have arranged neonatal care for my son on 5 Feb 2009 nearby Hosp and as per Dr's advice, the blood test has been done and the bilirubin level was found 23. Even by physical examination, a common person can judge that in 23 the baby's body will be yellowish. Here the baby is not yellowish in appearance. Since the result was this high, atleast a second test to be done or the Doctor has to verify again by examining the baby. Even without the followup check up he has forced us to admit the baby and done photherapy from 11 PM on the same day to next day ie 6 Feb 2009.

When we called Doctor by 10PM he has asked us to keep the baby till next day morning and do the blood test by 8:30 AM, 8 Feb 2009. May be it is because of our protest, he has adviced the nurses to do the blood test by 10: 30 PM on 7 Feb and the test has been carried out. The lab people informed that due to the non dependability of the machine, they have to do the further testing. In the first test level shown normal. Then after some time again another test was carried out and the bilurubine level is detected as 10.2. This clearly indicate that the test at their labs were not carried out perfectly and due to the bad judgment, a 7 day old baby had to suffer.

Is it possible that 18-20 hours phototherapy can bring down 23 bilirubin level to 10.2.

[RLTMommy]

My son had a high billiruben (19). We kept him on a light blanket at home for almost 2 weeks. It was 2 months before the levels went down significantly. I do know from our experience that the forehead meter is not as accurate as a blood test. Our blood tests varied from the billiruben meter as much as 5-7 points. Also, the light can lower the level of billiruben, but the levels can go up again after being removed from the light. This happens because your body continues to process the billiruben. I know it's frustrating, but I think if a mistake was made, it was in the better interest of your child. Good luck!