Sometimes, premature birth or an underlying disorder may aggravate their jaundice. Other issues could include blood group incompatibility, infection in the bloodstream, certain viral infections, abnormalities of certain enzymes or the red cell membrane. Though these problems are not common, the most common among them is biliary atresia , a disorder that leads to blockage in the bile ducts, which are the tubes that drain bile from the liver to the intestine.
But before you worry, know that this is uncommon. Placing the baby under light, called phototherapy, is the most common treatment to lower bilirubin levels — if the pediatrician considers it high enough to be treated. Phototherapy often requires hospitalization and a premature baby may need a more aggressive treatment than a full-term baby.
This requires close monitoring and needs to be done in a neonatal intensive care unit. Babies do not normally need extra water. Regular feeding to boost the supply of breastmilk is important. If the bilirubin level is high, the most commonly used treatment is phototherapy bright light therapy.
It does not contain rays that would harm your baby. Phototherapy is very safe and effective and can only happen in hospital. See Phototherapy. A small number of babies with severe jaundice may have liver disease. Your baby may need blood tests or to go to hospital for tests, especially if the jaundice does not go away by 2 weeks of age or your baby has pale poo or dark wee. When babies receive the correct treatment, complications of jaundice are rare. Severe jaundice can lead to deafness or brain damage without diagnosis and quick treatment.
ABO incompatibility is one of the diseases which can cause jaundice. It happens when a mother's blood type is O, and her baby's blood type is A or B. If your baby has normal physiological jaundice, they don't need any special treatment. Rhesus disease is one of the diseases which can cause jaundice. It can only happen if a mother's blood type is Rhesus negative and her baby's blood type is Rhesus positive. Baby jaundice is not always normal. This page last reviewed 03 July Do you have any feedback for KidsHealth?
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Skip to main content. Close main menu. KidsHealth NZ. Open main menu Close main menu. Search form. Hidden Submit Search. Jaundice In Babies. Key points to remember about jaundice in babies jaundice means yellow colouring of the skin and the whites of the eyes mild jaundice is common in newborn babies - it starts on the second or third day and settles over 7 to 10 days there are many causes of jaundice some types of jaundice are serious jaundice that appears in the first 24 hours after birth is not normal - it needs checking by a doctor straightaway jaundice at any age with pale poos and dark wee needs checking with a blood test jaundice still there after 2 weeks of age needs checking by a doctor severe jaundice can be serious - with correct early treatment long-term problems are rare What is jaundice?
Jaundice is the medical word for yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. Why do babies get jaundiced? Jaundice is very common - over half of all babies have it. How do I know if my baby's jaundice is normal? Jaundice is likely to be normal if your baby: becomes jaundiced after the first 24 hours after birth wakes up of their own accord to demand feeds looks well and feeds well has dirty nappies poo that are yellow or green not pale, white or light beige in colour has wee which is clear or straw-coloured, not yellow or dark As the bilirubin level gets higher, your baby: will become more obviously yellow over the whole body may be sleepy and slow to wake up for feeding may feed less well If you are worried or have questions, ask your midwife or doctor to check your baby.
How long will my baby's jaundice last? When should I seek help for my baby's jaundice? Depending on which of the following applies to your baby, check the matching section below: jaundice which started in the first 24 hours after birth jaundice lasting more than 2 weeks your baby is jaundiced and has pale poo your baby is unwell or is becoming increasingly yellow What if my baby is jaundiced in the first 24 hours after birth?
If your baby has jaundice, their skin will look slightly yellow. The yellowing of the skin usually starts on the head and face, before spreading to the chest and stomach. In some babies, the yellowing reaches their arms and legs. The yellowing may also increase if you press an area of skin down with your finger.
Your baby will usually be examined for signs of jaundice within 72 hours of being born as part of the newborn physical examination. If your baby develops any signs of jaundice after this time, speak to your midwife, health visitor or a GP as soon as possible for advice.
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