[5 min read]
In this article:
- Every newborn is screened for jaundice with a blood test for excess levels of a naturally occuring blood component called bilirubin.
- Typically, the test requires a needle stick that can be painful and stressful for babies and their parents.
- Generous Swedish Foundation donors supported the purchase of devices that measure babies' bilirubin levels transcutaneously. This means no needlestick and less anxiety for our littles and their families.
The newborn’s cries turn into wails as a nurse squeezes the infant’s heel, coaxing a drop of blood to the surface.
“I’m so sorry, baby,” the nurse coos, brows furrowed in concentration. “We’re almost there.” She squeezes again, collecting the blood in a small vial. Then the process begins anew. More squeezing, more blood, more crying.
As harrowing as this process is for newborns — and their fretful parents — it’s a medically necessary one. The nurse is gathering blood for a jaundice screening, a test that measures the level of a chemical called bilirubin in the baby’s body. Bilirubin is a naturally occurring component in blood and needs to be cleared when a blood cell reaches the end of its lifecycle. Typically, our bodies remove bilirubin through our liver, which alters the bilirubin so it can be excreted. For newborns, where the mother’s system has been doing that work for the baby for nine months, it can take a while for baby’s liver to take over, causing bilirubin to build up.
That’s where the medical necessity comes in. Elevated levels of bilirubin can lead to jaundice, which causes eyes and skin to yellow. When bilirubin levels are excessively high, jaundice can even result in brain damage.
Last year, generous Swedish Foundation donors stepped in to save parents, their babies, and Swedish pediatricians like Dr. Starnes time, worry, and additional expense. The community’s philanthropic support purchased transcutaneous bilimeters for Swedish pediatrics clinics and, recently, select in-patient units.
Last year, generous Swedish Foundation donors stepped in to save parents, their babies, and Swedish pediatricians like Dr. Starnes time, worry, and additional expense. The community’s philanthropic support purchased transcutaneous bilimeters for Swedish pediatrics clinics and, recently, select in-patient units.
“We do everything we can to prevent that, so we tend to intervene very quickly and very early if we suspect any jaundice,” explains Benjamin Starnes, M.D., executive medical director of pediatrics at the Swedish Women & Children’s Institute.
Traditionally, jaundice screening is done within 24 hours of birth via a blood test. After the needle poke and drop-by-drop blood collection, which can take anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes, the blood samples are sent to a lab. Results typically come back within one to four hours.
The standard process is already drawn out, especially for parents navigating life with a newborn, and that’s when everything goes right, Dr. Starnes notes. During the pandemic, he recalls labs being so overwhelmed that some wait times would balloon to six or more hours. He’s also had couriers lose blood samples and unexpected weekend lab closures.
“There were Saturdays and Sundays where we literally could not find anywhere for these infants to go, and we were having to send them to the emergency room for a simple, routine test,” Dr. Starnes says. “That’s a very expensive, very stressful experience and not the best use of anyone’s time.”
Last year, generous Swedish Foundation donors stepped in to save parents, their babies, and Swedish pediatricians like Dr. Starnes time, worry, and additional expense. The community’s philanthropic support purchased transcutaneous bilimeters for Swedish pediatrics clinics and, recently, select in-patient units.
The handheld medical devices measure bilirubin levels through the skin, typically on a baby’s chest or forehead, just like taking a temperature. A jaundice screening that used to take upwards of four hours now takes as little as five seconds, with no heel poke, blood, or crying.
Swedish purposefully chose bilimeters that don’t require disposable tips and can be easily cleaned and calibrated, like any other piece of medical equipment. The time and cost savings are invaluable.
“It used to be a stressful, stressful experience for new parents, and the bilimeter has just made a huge difference in our clinics,” Dr. Starnes says. “I have always appreciated our relationship with Swedish Foundation and being able to review some of our clinic’s greatest needs to have a big impact on our patient population. It’s all about the mission: doing what’s right for the children.”
Learn more and find physician or advanced practice clincian (APC)
Swedish has three birth centers — First Hill, Issaquah and Edmonds — making it convenient for people who live or work in the Seattle, Eastside and North End areas. Swedish patients can take classes, meet other families, get help with lactation and go for new parents and well-baby checkups at The Lytle Center for Pregnancy & Newborns at our First Hill birth center. You can also get expert advice there and help with wellness. Visit our website to learn more about midwives at Swedish and how they can partner with you to create the most personalized birthing experience possible.
If you need a gynecologist, women's health specialist or primary care doctor, Swedish is here for you. Whether you require an in-person visit or want to consult a doctor virtually, you have options. Swedish Virtual Care connects you face-to-face with a nurse practitioner who can review your symptoms, provide instruction and follow up as needed. If you need to find a doctor, you can use our provider directory.
About the Swedish Foundation
Your generous gift helps support a healthy tomorrow for everyone in every communty we serve. Learn about more ways to give to the Swedish Foundation or make a direct donation online at swedishfoundation.org. You can also contact the Foundation at 206-368-2738 or email foundation@swedish.org. Thank you for helping us shape the future of healthcare. We can’t do it without you.
Information for patients and visitors
Additional resources
Newsweek names Providence Swedish among nation’s best maternity hospitals
Centering Pregnancy: prenatal and midwifery care in a supportive group setting
At Swedish, midwives’ expansive role in care is helping build community
Cutting-edge care for patients giving birth and their babies | king5.com
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your health care professional’s instructions.
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