Don't panic if your doctor tells you that your newborn baby has jaundice. Jaundice in a newborn baby is a common condition.
Most newborns have normal physiological jaundice and in very rare cases is the jaundice due to serious liver disorders.
Why my baby?
The blood cells in your baby's body are broken up into a yellow pigment called bilirubin. The level of bilirubin needs to be kept normal by the liver and kidneys by excreting it in the baby's poop. But the liver of a newborn baby is not very mature. So bilirubin levels rise in the blood causing yellow pigmentation of the skin.
More than 90% of newborn babies are affected by normal physiological jaundice. So relax. This type of jaundice is seen usually on second or third day of the baby's life and disappears by the 7th or 10th day.
How to tell if your baby has jaundice
Yellow discoloration of the skin and the white of the eye is the key symptom of jaundice. Your baby may also be sleepier than usual. This could be normal physiological jaundice especially when it appears 3-4 days after birth.
Monitor your baby after 1 or 2 days of his birth. You can diagnose jaundice in the newborn baby by doing a very simple test. Press your fingertip against your baby's forehead or nose tip. If it appears white, you have nothing to worry about. If a yellowish color appears, it is time to call your doctor. A blood test might be needed to confirm that there are no specific causes for the jaundice.
More on jaundice in the newborn
Normal physiological jaundice does not affect baby's general health.
Breast milk can also produce jaundice in a few babies. However, the pros of breastfeeding outweigh the condition and you will probably be advised continue breastfeeding.
Premature babies are more prone to developing jaundice. Blood group incompatibility between you and your child can also produce jaundice.
When jaundice is a cause for alarm
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