Neonatal Jaundice

Jaundice is the yellow discolouration of the skin and eyes of many babies and happens when a chemical called bilirubin builds up in baby's blood. It can occur in babies of any race. 

How Can I Tell If My Baby Is Jaundiced?

The best way to detect jaundice is to place the baby in good natural light such as daylight near a window or fluorescent lights. The skin of the baby with jaundice usually appears yellow, first in the face. As the bilirubin level rises, the yellow colour moves downwards to the chest, abdomen, arms and legs.

The whites of the eye may also appear yellow. In babies with tanned or darker skin, jaundice may be hard to detect visually. 
 

Why Does My Baby Have Jaundice?

Bilirubin in the blood is normally removed by the liver. Before birth, the mother's liver does this for the baby. Jaundice is common in babies because their immature livers require a few days to develop before it can eliminate the bilirubin efficiently.
 

Can Jaundice Harm My Baby?

Most infants experience mild jaundice which is completely harmless. However, if the bilirubin level gets extremely high and is left untreated, it can lead to brain damage and hearing loss.

Hence, babies should be checked carefully for jaundice and treatment should be administered to prevent bilirubin from reaching a dangerous level.
 

How Should My Baby Be Checked for Jaundice?

If your baby appears jaundiced in the first few days of life, the doctor may conduct a test or transcutaneous bilirubin level to determine your baby's bilirubin level. A bilirubin level is always needed if jaundice develops before a baby is 24 hours old.

Further tests might be needed, depending on the age of the baby, the bilirubin level as well as other factors that predispose the baby to jaundice.
 

When Should My Baby Get Checked for Jaundice After Leaving the Hospital?

It is important for your baby to be seen by a nurse or doctor when your baby is between 3 to 5 days old, because this is usually the time when a baby's bilirubin level naturally peaks.

The timing of this visit may vary depending on the age of your baby when discharged from the hospital, advice given upon discharge and other factors.

Can Neonatal Jaundice be prevented?

Jaundice is a common condition in babies, and it cannot be prevented. However, you can prevent it from worsening by ensuring good fluid intake for your baby through frequent milk feeds. Mild jaundice in the first week needs no treatment except attention to hydration. One can prevent jaundice levels reaching very high by timely phototherapy

How Is Neonatal Jaundice Treated?

If your baby's bilirubin level is high, he/she will need to receive phototherapy. This is done by placing your unclothed baby under special blue lights.

Phototherapy will lower the bilirubin level. The level at which jaundice is treated is significantly lower than those at which brain damage is a concern and treatment can help prevent the harmful effects of jaundice.

However, on some occasions, the level of jaundice may be so high that phototherapy may not be effective. A special procedure known as exchange transfusion might then be necessary.

Putting your baby under direct sunlight is not recommended. It does not reduce the jaundice level effectively. It exposes your baby to dangerous sunburns, skin overheating, and dehydration.
 

When Does Jaundice Go Away?

In breastfed infants, jaundice often harmlessly lasts for more than 2 to 3 weeks. In formula-fed infants, most jaundice will disappear by 2 weeks.

Please consult your doctor if your baby is jaundiced for more than 2 weeks or if your baby passes pale, chalky-white, or clay-coloured stools, or has dark, tea-coloured urine.