Newborn jaundice

Mild jaundice in babies occurs in about 50% of full-term newborn babies, and in up to 80% of premature babies. You’re most likely to notice it from the third day after birth. Jaundice is usually harmless and disappears after 1-2 weeks.

What is bilirubin?

Bilirubin is a breakdown product from red blood cells. Before your baby is born, bilirubin is transferred easily across from the placenta from the fetus to maternal circulation. Through this process, your body is able to rid of the bilirubin from the baby. Once your baby is delivered and the umbilical cord is clamped, the baby is on its own to handle the bilirubin produced in its own body.

Symptoms

 

Jaundice in a newborn causes the skin and the whites of the eyes to go a yellow colour. The jaundice typically starts on the face and head. If the level of bilirubin increases, the colour will spread to the body. Babies might also be drowsy and have feeding difficulties.

When to see your doctor

 

Jaundice is usually harmless, but a nurse or doctor should check and monitor all cases of jaundice in newborn babies. Some babies have severe jaundice, which very occasionally can lead to deafness and even brain damage if not treated promptly.
You should take your baby to the doctor if:

• your baby is unwell, feeding poorly and not gaining enough weight
• your baby’s poo becomes pale or baby’s wee becomes dark
• your baby develops jaundice in the first 48 hours after birth
• the jaundice becomes more noticeable after a week
• the jaundice hasn’t gone away after two weeks.
  
  

Why do babies become jaundiced?

 

After birth, if your baby has problems dealing with bilirubin, it may develop high levels of it in the blood. Your baby may develop jaundice - yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. Bilirubin levels typically increase for three or four days after the baby's delivery, then decrease.

Your pediatrician and the nurses in the nursery check for jaundice by observing your baby's colour. Your baby may have a test to measure his or her bilirubin levels at the hospital or at your pediatrician's office.

Treatment

A baby is treated for jaundice with phototherapy, which can be delivered in the hospital or at home with a free-standing device or a fiber-optic blanket. The light from the special device penetrates the skin and destroys the bilirubin.

Extremely high levels of bilirubin (hyperbilirubinemia) in a newborn infant causes doctors concern because a serious condition called kernicterus can develop. Kernicterus is seen more frequently in premature infants than in babies delivered at full term. If the baby survives the kernicterus, it may have neurological problems - spasticity, lack of muscle co-ordination and varying degrees of mental retardation. However kernicterus in a newborn is rare.