My baby is 3 days old and I suspect she has jaundice, what signs should I be looking for? She seems red and when I touch her skin it turns yellow
Mar 10, 2013
Newborn jaundice is common condition caused by excess bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is produced by the normal breakdown of red blood cells. Normally, bilirubin passes through the liver and is excreted as bile through the intestines. Jaundice occurs when bilirubin builds up faster than a newborn's liver can break it down and pass it from the body.
Most jaundice is mild and wont harm your baby.It will usually disappear as the liver matures towards the end of the first week. This is called physiologic jaundice. Jaundice is also more common in babies who are breastfed babies do not get enough breast milk in the first 3 or 4 days of life. If they don’t take in enough milk, they won’t have bowel movements, and if they don’t have bowel movements, their bodies won’t eliminate bilirubin. Furthermore, in 1% to 2% of breastfed babies, jaundice may be caused by substances produced in their mother's breast milk that can cause the bilirubin level to rise.
Visual method of checking jaundice: Press lightly on the skin and look at the color of the spot where your finger was. If it looks yellow (rather than white), that is jaundice. The baby should be undressed so different parts of the body (face, chest, abdomen, legs) can be compared. Jaundice starts in the face and moves downward to the chest, then abdomen, then to the arms and legs as it gets more severe. However, this is NOT a safe way to monitor a baby’s bilirubin level.
As long as your baby is healthy and thriving (eating well, gaining weight, developing normally, is active, has no fever ) there is nothing to worry about. However, your pediatrician should evaluate your baby to make sure the bilirubin level is normal. CALL your doctor immediately if your baby develops fever, if your baby is not feeding well or if your baby is sleepier than usual.
Most jaundice is mild and wont harm your baby.It will usually disappear as the liver matures towards the end of the first week. This is called physiologic jaundice. Jaundice is also more common in babies who are breastfed babies do not get enough breast milk in the first 3 or 4 days of life. If they don’t take in enough milk, they won’t have bowel movements, and if they don’t have bowel movements, their bodies won’t eliminate bilirubin. Furthermore, in 1% to 2% of breastfed babies, jaundice may be caused by substances produced in their mother's breast milk that can cause the bilirubin level to rise.
Visual method of checking jaundice: Press lightly on the skin and look at the color of the spot where your finger was. If it looks yellow (rather than white), that is jaundice. The baby should be undressed so different parts of the body (face, chest, abdomen, legs) can be compared. Jaundice starts in the face and moves downward to the chest, then abdomen, then to the arms and legs as it gets more severe. However, this is NOT a safe way to monitor a baby’s bilirubin level.
As long as your baby is healthy and thriving (eating well, gaining weight, developing normally, is active, has no fever ) there is nothing to worry about. However, your pediatrician should evaluate your baby to make sure the bilirubin level is normal. CALL your doctor immediately if your baby develops fever, if your baby is not feeding well or if your baby is sleepier than usual.
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