Yamm Megamenu
×

Newborn jaundice

KayaWell Icon

Newborn jaundice
455 Views
By KayaWell Expert

Map Data
Map data ©2020
Map DataMap data ©2020
Map data ©2020

Sponsored

Knowledge Base

Jaundice in NewBorns

Newborn jaundice is a yellowing of a baby’s skin and eyes. Newborn jaundice is very common and can occur when babies have a high level of bilirubin, a yellow pigment produced during normal breakdown of red blood cells. In older babies and adults, the liver processes bilirubin, which then passes it through the intestinal tract. However, a newborn’s still-developing liver may not be mature enough to remove bilirubin.


The good news is that in most cases, newborn jaundice goes away on its own as a baby’s liver develops and as the baby begins to feed, which helps bilirubin pass through the body.


In most cases, jaundice will disappear within 2 to 3 weeks. Jaundice that persists longer than three weeks may be a symptom of an underlying condition. Additionally, high levels of bilirubin can put a baby at risk for deafness, cerebral palsy, or other forms of brain damage. That’s why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all newborn babies be examined for jaundice every time their vital signs are measured (or at least every 8 to 12 hours), before discharge from the hospital, and again a few days after discharge.

The first sign of jaundice is a yellowing of a baby’s skin and eyes. The yellowing may begin within two to four days after birth and may start in the face before spreading down across the body. Bilirubin levels typically peak between 3 to 7 days after birth.

If a finger lightly pressed on a baby’s skin causes that area of skin to become yellow, it’s likely a sign of jaundice.
Babies at highest risk for developing newborn jaundice are:

premature babies, or babies born before 37 weeks’ gestation
babies who aren’t getting enough breast milk (or formula, for babies that are not being given breast milk), either because they are having a hard time feeding or because their mother’s milk isn’t in yet
babies whose blood type isn’t compatible with the blood type of their mother
A baby whose blood type isn’t compatible with that of their mother can develop a buildup of antibodies that can destroy their red blood cells and cause a sudden rise in bilirubin levels.

Other causes of newborn jaundice include:

bruising at birth or other internal bleeding
liver problems
an infection
an enzyme deficiency
an abnormality in your baby’s red blood cells

Mild jaundice will usually resolve on its own as a baby’s liver begins to mature. Frequent feedings (between 8 to 12 times a day) will help babies pass bilirubin through their bodies.

More severe jaundice may require other treatments. Phototherapy is a common and highly effective method of treatment that uses light to break down bilirubin in your baby’s body. In phototherapy, your baby will be placed on a special bed under a blue spectrum light while wearing only a diaper and special protective goggles. A fiber-optic blanket may also be placed underneath your baby.

In very severe cases, an exchange transfusion may be necessary. In an exchange transfusion, a baby receives small amounts of blood from a donor or a blood bank. This replaces the baby’s damaged blood with healthy red blood cells. This also increases the baby’s red blood cell count and reduces bilirubin levels.
https://www.healthline.com

Jaundice in NewBorns

Comments