Re: [ozmidwifery] Sun baths

[Lois Wattis]

Hi again - interesting to get info related to the northern hemisphere.. (thanks Debbie and Marilyn), compared to Australia.   I revisited my text books before posting my bit on ozmid about natural light for treating physiological jaundice - just to check my facts.  The use of natural light this way is mentioned in PGB. Johnston's book "The Newborn Child" (my text from my mid studies) pp181,and 187.  Johnson states "exposing the baby's skin to sunlight effectively reduces  the bilirubin level but is impractical for treatment in the UK."    Regarding the specific lighting requirement - "exposing the skin to blue light of wavelength 400-500 nm and in an intensity of 4-10 microwatts/cm2 converts the bilirubin in the superficial capillaries to harmless water soluble metabolites which are then excreted in the urine and bowel".  I don't know how to quantify/measure the nm's of natural daylight in various states or seasons in Australia, however I don't think it's necessary.  The value of exposure to INDIRECT 'white' daylight in a well lit room to convert unconjugated bilirubin into conjugated water soluble bilirubin for excretion is well documented.  Exposure of the head and shoulders, maybe chest in a temperature-controlled environment is usually sufficient to stimulate the process, in combination with frequent feeding.    Home and hospital rooms vary in how much light they get, but often it's only a matter of rearranging where the baby is located in the room which makes the difference.  I'm sure there are hospital midwives out there who encourage women to put their baby's cot on the opposite side of the bed just to take advantage of the natural light in the room to minimise or treat physiological jaundice the natural way, just as I did when I worked in the hospitals.  Attention to this type of early treatment will save many babies from the heel pricks for SBR collections ('just to check'), and possibly from separation and Mothers' associated anxiety, interuptions to feedings and so on related to artificial phototherapy.  Just my two bob's worth!   Cheers, Lois     ----- Original Message ----- From: Debbie Slater To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2003 2:37 PM Subject: [ozmidwifery] Sun baths Lois wrote: Hi Tina, my understanding is that normal bright 'white' daylight in a well lit room is adequate to facilitate the conversion of bilirubin in it's fat soluble form stored in the tissue, to the water soluble form, which is then returned to the bloodstream for processing through the GI system for excretion. I was always told just to put babies in a well-lit room (and this was in the lukewarm sunlight of the northern hemisphere - London to be exact). This is just from a mother's perspective. Debbie Slater