![]() ![]() A baby born before 38 weeks of gestation may not be able to process bilirubin as quickly as full-term babies do. Major risk factors for jaundice, particularly severe jaundice that can cause complications, include: An abnormality of your baby's red blood cells that causes them to break down rapidly.Biliary atresia, a condition in which the baby's bile ducts are blocked or scarred.An incompatibility between the mother's blood and the baby's blood.An infection in your baby's blood (sepsis).Diseases or conditions that can cause jaundice include: In these cases, jaundice often appears much earlier or much later than does the more common form of infant jaundice. Other causesĪn underlying disorder may cause infant jaundice. Jaundice due to these normal newborn conditions is called physiologic jaundice, and it typically appears on the second or third day of life. A newborn's immature liver often can't remove bilirubin quickly enough, causing an excess of bilirubin. ![]() Normally, the liver filters bilirubin from the bloodstream and releases it into the intestinal tract. Newborns produce more bilirubin than adults do because of greater production and faster breakdown of red blood cells in the first few days of life. Bilirubin, which is responsible for the yellow color of jaundice, is a normal part of the pigment released from the breakdown of "used" red blood cells. Your baby develops any other signs or symptoms that concern youĮxcess bilirubin (hyperbilirubinemia) is the main cause of jaundice.Your baby isn't gaining weight or is feeding poorly.Your baby seems listless or sick or is difficult to awaken.The whites of your baby's eyes look yellow.The skin on your baby's the abdomen, arms or legs looks yellow.The following signs or symptoms may indicate severe jaundice or complications from excess bilirubin. If your baby is discharged earlier than 72 hours after birth, make a follow-up appointment to look for jaundice within two days of discharge. Your baby should be examined for jaundice between the third and seventh day after birth, when bilirubin levels usually peak. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that newborns be examined for jaundice during routine medical checks and at least every eight to 12 hours while in the hospital. Most hospitals have a policy of examining babies for jaundice before discharge. If your baby doesn't have jaundice, the skin color should simply look slightly lighter than its normal color for a moment.Įxamine your baby in good lighting conditions, preferably in natural daylight. If the skin looks yellow where you pressed, it's likely your baby has mild jaundice. To check for infant jaundice, press gently on your baby's forehead or nose. Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes - the main sign of infant jaundice - usually appears between the second and fourth day after birth. ![]()
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