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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)
Think you might be pregnant? If you have started experiencing some early symptoms and you have missed your period you just might be. Most women will experience some changes and early signs of pregnancy before their missed period. However, just like with everything else, each woman is different and each pregnancy is different, which means some woman may not experience any early signs of pregnancy at all.
Here are a few of the early signs of pregnancy. You may experience all, some, or none of these symptoms. All of these symptoms can also be signs of other health issues so be sure to talk to your doctor if you have these symptoms but have ruled out pregnancy.
- The most common early symptom, and the one most woman look for to tell them they are pregnant, is a late or missed period. If your cycle is fairly regular a missed period is often the first indication that you may be pregnant. For women who have irregular cycles you may experience some of the other symptoms before you realize your period is late.
- About 6-12 days after implantation some women experience light bleeding known as implantation bleeding. It can sometimes be mistaken as a light period. Not all women will experience this bleeding, but if you do it can be an early sign of pregnancy. It will likely take other symptoms before you realize you may be pregnant.
- Within the first couple of weeks after conception many women begin to feel swelling and tenderness of their breasts. You will notice your breasts becoming sore and tender to the touch and may notice a change in their size. It can vary from woman to woman on when you will experience this symptom but it can be as early as 1 week after conception.
- Beginning very early, as early as 1 week after conception, you may begin to notice you are exhausted all the time. Being tired or exhausted is a common early sign of pregnancy, but again alone may not be enough for you to notice, but in combination with other early symptoms may be a sign you are pregnant.
- One of the most common symptoms of pregnancy, morning sickness, sets in fairly early in pregnancy. It varies widely from woman to woman, and some women may not experience morning sickness at all. On average morning sickness will set in about 2-8 weeks after conception. Along with a missed period this is one of the most common symptoms women look for to tell them they are pregnant.
- A few other early symptoms include increased sensitivity to odors, headaches, backaches frequent urination and abdominal bloating.
The only proof of pregnancy is a positive pregnancy test. If you experiencing any of these early signs of pregnancy and think you may be pregnant now would be a good time to take a home pregnancy test, and make an appointment to see your doctor.
Be sure to talk to your doctor if you have questions or concerns about the symptoms you are experiencing, particularly if you have ruled out pregnancy as the cause.
Related Post: What to Do if You Think You Are Pregnant
(source: BabyCenter, American Pregnancy Association)