Jaundice

Neonatal Jaundice is a harmless and common condition that refers to the yellow discoloration of the baby’s skin and eyes. One in five infants will have some form of neonatal jaundice. It may occur in the face first and then make its way through the rest of the body.

Jaundice occurs when there is a large amount of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow substance that the body produces when it replaces old red blood cells. Babies have a higher count of red blood cells when they are first born, and they break down slightly faster than adults. The excess amount of bilirubin in their blood can occur because an infant's liver is still developing and not yet mature enough to remove the bilirubin. It may take some time before a baby’s liver is capable of doing so efficiently.

In most cases, jaundice does not require any special treatment. Mild to moderate jaundice will go away on its own in 1-2 weeks.

Contact us if you believe your baby may have jaundice with any of the following symptoms :

• If your baby's jaundice appears to be worsening or getting darker in color.
• If your baby has a fever or is acting sick.
• If your baby is sleepier than usual or has a loss of appetite.