DANVILLE — More than 850 newborns each year begin their life at Provena United Samaritans’ Family Life Center. In 2007, 93 of these infants were treated for jaundice.

Jaundice is a common condition in newborns involving yellow color of the skin and whites of the eyes caused by excess bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is produced by the normal breakdown of red blood cells.

Normally, bilirubin passes through the liver and is excreted as bile through the intestines. Jaundice occurs when bilirubin builds up faster than a newborn’s liver can break it down and pass it from the body.

In mild or moderate levels of jaundice, by 1 to 2 weeks of age the baby will take care of the excess bilirubin on its own. For high levels of jaundice, phototherapy treatment is used; that involves a special light that helps rid the body of the bilirubin by altering it or making it easier for the baby’s liver to process it.

At Provena United Samaritans, infants have traditionally received phototherapy under special lamps in one of the designated beds in the newborn nursery for an average of 2.3 days.

One of the drawbacks of the traditional process is that, during this time, the parents are not able to have as much bonding time with their baby — no holding, touching or visiting during treatment.

Now, thanks to a gift of just more than $8,000 from Ronald McDonald House Charities of Illinois, parents and their infants will be able to bond as much as they want — even while the newborn is treated for jaundice — with two new Bilisoft LED Phototherapy Systems.

“These systems are the next generation of fiberoptic-based technology,” Jennifer Cord, director of women’s services at Provena United Samaritans Medical Center, said. “With the advanced light pad system, the baby can be basically wrapped in a blanket and be held, rocked and fed, all while receiving treatment.”

Another advantage to this treatment method is that the blanket envelopes the baby. The baby doesn’t need to be turned to different positions, which must be done under a bank of lights.

“This is the equivalent of three banks of lights,” Diane Bolin, obstetrics manager, said.

The two Bilisoft blankets arrived at Provena USMC on Christmas Eve, and were immediately put into service.

“This is the latest technology,” Bolin said. “Prior to this, the babies would have to go back to the nursery for treatment. Now, the mothers can hold their babies during treatment.”

New mothers can keep their babies right at their bedside instead of being separated from them during treatment, she explained. That promotes not just bonding, but breastfeeding, too.

The BiliSoft system can deliver phototherapy anywhere, whether in the nursery, a radiant warmer, incubator, bassinet, crib or in the arms of a parent. With the addition of the new systems, Provena USMC also will have the capability to treat more infants at the same time, when needed.

“I’ve visited mothers crying in their postpartum room because they can’t be with their baby while he or she is lying in the nursery getting treatment,” Cord said. “We are so thankful to Ronald McDonald House Charities for allowing us to be able to provide this alternative and help reduce separation anxiety for our new parents.”

“McDonald’s has always shown support of programs that directly benefit children of all ages,” Deanna Witzel with McDonald’s Restaurants of Vermilion County said.

Witzel assisted Provena in obtaining the grant, saying, “I can’t think of a better way to help than to make sure newborns get the healthiest, happiest start of their lives possible.”

FYI

For more information on jaundice and its treatment, or the childbirth experience at Provena United Samaritans Medical Center, call the Family Life Center at 443.5211, or visit http://www.provena.org/usmc.