Choose the topic you want to read.

• Jaundice in Newborns
• What are the Symptoms of jaundice in newborns?
• What Causes of Jaundice in newborns?
• What are the Risk factors for Jaundice in Newborns
• Preparation for the doctors
• How is Jaundice in Newborns treated?

Jaundice in Newborns

Neonatal jaundice is a common condition, especially in babies born prematurely (before 38 weeks of gestation). It often results from the immature liver of the newborn, which is not yet fully capable of eliminating bilirubin efficiently. The symptoms of neonatal jaundice include the yellowish discoloration of the skin and eyes, which typically becomes noticeable on the second or third day of life. In most cases, the condition is mild and resolves as the liver matures. Extremely high levels of bilirubin can pose a risk of brain damage, but this is rare.

What are the Symptoms of jaundice in newborns?

• Yellowing of skin,
• eyes
• underside of the tongue.

Skin yellowing is more noticeable in natural light. Jaundice in newborns is assessable by pressing a finger on the nose or forehead. If the skin looks yellow, the baby has jaundice.

What Causes of Jaundice in newborns?

• Hyperbilirubinemia
• Hemorrhage
• Sepsis
• Viral or bacterial infections
• Blood incompatibility between mother and baby
• Liver malfunction
• Biliary atresia
• Enzyme deficiency
• Hemolysis

What are the Risk factors for Jaundice in Newborns?

• Premature Birth: Premature infants born before 38 weeks of gestation have immature livers, which cannot process bilirubin as efficiently as full-term babies. Additionally, premature babies often feed less and have fewer bowel movements, leading to a slower elimination of bilirubin from their intestines, making them more susceptible to jaundice.
• Significant Bruising during Birth: Babies who experience significant bruising during delivery are at higher risk of higher levels of bilirubin in their bloodstream.
• Blood Type Incompatibility: If a maternal blood type is different from her newborn baby, the baby is at risk of hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN), which causes increased breakdown of red blood cells, bilirubin levels, and jaundice.

Diagnosis

• Physical examination
• A blood test to measure bilirubin level
• A transcutaneous bilirubin measurement

When to see a doctor?

Day 3 and day seven after birth is when bilirubin levels are at their highest. If your baby shows the following symptoms, promptly take them to a doctor.

• Yellowing of the skin, particularly in the whites of the eyes, abdomen, arms, and legs.
• Listlessness or sickness.
• Poor weight gain or feeding difficulties.
• Unusual or high-pitched crying.
• Other signs and symptoms, e.g., vomiting, diarrhea, breathing difficulties, or unusual behavior.

Preparation for the doctor's appointment

If your baby is at risk of severe jaundice, your doctor will recommend a follow-up visit. You should observe your baby's symptoms and prepare to answer the following questions.

• Do you breastfeed your baby? How often?
• How often does your baby urinate?
• Are there any signs of illness?
• Does the color of your baby's whites of the eyes or skin change?

You can also list questions that you would like to ask your doctor.

• What causes jaundice?
• Does my baby need to undergo any tests?
• What kind of treatment do you recommend?
• Are the symptoms severe?
• Do I need to adjust how I feed my baby?

How is Jaundice in Newborns treated?

No treatment is necessary for mild neonatal jaundice, which usually resolves within 2-3 weeks.  If your baby is diagnosed with moderate or severe jaundice, the following treatments may be necessary.

• Phototherapy with special blue light modifies the shape and structure of bilirubin molecules so they are excretable through urine and stool.
• An exchange transfusion may be necessary if your baby has severe jaundice that does not respond to other treatment modalities.

Home remedies

Frequent breastfeeding can help your baby to get adequate nutrition and prevent weight loss. The more frequent breastfeeding, the more bowel movements help to excrete bilirubin from the intestine.