All pregnant moms hope that their new babes will be perfect in every way, but many newborn babies develop jaundice. What is it and how serious is it?
What is jaundice?
Jaundice is a condition in which one's skin and the white parts of the eyes have a yellow colour. It's not actually a disease but is usually a sign that one's liver is not functioning properly.
The yellow colour is caused by a build-up of bilirubin (a product of our red blood cells).
Because our bodies are constantly making new blood while breaking down and getting rid of old blood, bilirubin normally goes to the liver and then leaves the body through the stools.
There are different types of jaundice:
- prehepatic, in which the body contains too many red blood cells;
- hepatic, which is when the liver is inflamed or infected;
- and obstructive jaundice, when something is blocking the bile duct that transports the bile from the gallbladder (this is most commonly caused by a gallstone, but sometimes by a tumour).
But the type of jaundice that newborn babies get is known as 'normal physiological jaundice' and it usually appears on the second or third day of the baby's life and disappears by the seventh to tenth day.
Why are newborns prone to getting jaundice?
For the first few days after birth a baby's liver does not work properly. As a result, there tends to be a build-up of bilirubin in the blood.
When the baby is still in the womb, this bilirubin is washed away by the placenta (the connection between mother and baby) into the mother's
bloodstream and removed.
A newborn baby's liver is a little immature so it takes a few days to start functioning properly. Premature babies are therefore also more likely to get jaundice.
What are the warning signs of severe jaundice that needs treatment?
Jaundice is usually not at all serious but sometimes it can be. Look out for the following signs and contact your doctor or clinic if any of them occur:
- Jaundice appears within the first 24 hours of life;
- Jaundice continues after 14 days from birth;
- Baby is not feeding well;
- Baby's eyes and face have a yellow colour;
- Baby's urine becomes yellow in colour;
- Baby's stools are pale (almost whitish);
- Baby appears very sleepy or irritable.
How is it treated?
If your baby's jaundice is not following the normal pattern, there are various treatments that will help. Dehydration commonly occurs with jaundice, so in mild cases fluids may be all that's needed.
A blood test will show how much bilirubin is in baby's bloodstream. In moderate cases phototherapy is used - baby is placed naked (except for protection over the eyes and genitals) under special lights which help to break down the bilirubin and make the jaundice fade.
In severe cases (very rare) baby may need a blood transfusion in which the blood is replaced (exchanged) with fresh blood to wash the bilirubin out of the system.
Facts and tips on infant jaundice
- Between 50 percent and 90 percent of newborn babies develop jaundice
- Normal jaundice is not harmful and disappears when the baby is around ten days old
- If jaundice appears within one day of birth or continues for more than 14 days, it is not following the 'normal' pattern and needs medical attention.
- Babies who are breast-feeding may have 'normal' jaundice for a bit longer than bottle-fed babies, but they should still be checked. Don't stop breastfeeding, as the jaundice will disappear naturally.
- Some babies don't latch on to the breast well and so don't get enough milk. If your baby has jaundice, make sure he's feeding well, and contact your clinic for advice if you're at all uncertain.
- Mothers who suffer from diabetes are more likely to have babies with jaundice so if you're diabetic, discuss this possibility with your doctor or clinic sister before the birth so that you're better prepared if it does happen.
- Newborn jaundice is also much more likely to occur if there's a family history of infant jaundice.