Jaundice is a very common condition in newborns, affecting 50-60 percent of newborns. It is estimated that virtually all babies are born with jaundice, however, many have it at such low levels that it is not detected and resolves itself very quickly.

So what is jaundice? Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes. It is caused by high levels of a pigment in the blood called bilirubin. Bilirubin is a byproduct created when old red blood cells breakdown. Everyone’s body contains bilirubin that is removed from the blood by the liver and then eliminated in your stool. What happens in a newborn’s with jaundice is their liver takes a little bit of time after their birth to catch up. Prior to birth the mother’s liver removes the bilirubin for them, after birth their still developing liver has to take over this task so the bilirubin builds up in their blood.

In most cases jaundice is a temporary and harmless condition. It usually resolves itself within the first week or so of the baby’s life, in some cases minimal treatment is necessary such as supplementing feeding with formula and exposure to sunlight. In rare cases jaundice can be dangerous which is why the doctor will keep a close eye on the baby to ensure their bilirubin levels are decreasing. When bilirubin levels exceed 20 mg there is a chance of deafness, cerebral palsy, or brain damage.

As I mentioned, jaundice is very common, occurring in a majority of newborns. Some newborns, however, are more prone to develop jaundice, they include:

• Babies who have a sibling that had jaundice.
• Babies that suffer bruising during birth.
• Babies born prematurely.

If your baby is diagnosed with jaundice be sure to talk to your doctor about what you need to do. You will likely have to take the baby back to the hospital at least once in the first few days after birth for additional testing and monitoring. If you have questions about jaundice or your child’s risk of developing jaundice, talk to your doctor.

For more information on jaundice visit the American Academy of Pediatrics website.

(source: KidsHealth)