Details: Category: Region 9; Published: 22 February 2023

By any chance, there are instances that newborns appear to be yellow in color. Do not be alarmed as this can be a normal phenomenon due to immature liver but if it persists for days then it is something already. The yellowing of a newborn's skin and eyes is known as Newborn Jaundice. Newborn jaundice is very common and occurs when babies have a high level of bilirubin, a yellow pigment produced during normal red blood cell breakdown. In older babies and adults, bilirubin is processed by the liver and then passed through the intestinal tract. A newborn's liver, on the other hand, may not be mature enough to remove bilirubin. The good news is that newborn jaundice usually resolves on its own as a baby's liver develops and the baby begins to feed, which allows bilirubin to pass through the body. In most cases, jaundice will go away in 2 to 3 weeks. Jaundice that lasts more than three weeks may be a sign of an underlying condition.

Premature babies (babies born before 37 weeks of gestation), babies who aren't getting enough breast milk, either because they're having difficulty feeding or because their mother's milk isn't in yet, and babies whose blood type isn't compatible with their mother's blood type are at the highest risk of developing newborn jaundice. A baby whose blood type is incompatible with their mothers can develop antibodies that destroy their own red blood cells and cause a spike in bilirubin levels. Other causes of newborn jaundice include bruising or internal bleeding at birth, liver problems, an infection, an enzyme deficiency, and an abnormality in your baby's red blood cells.

The yellowing of a baby's skin and eyes is the first sign of jaundice. Yellowing may appear 2 to 4 days after birth and may begin in the face before spreading down the body. Bilirubin levels usually peak 3 to 7 days after birth. If a finger lightly pressed on a baby’s skin causes that area of skin to become yellow, this is most likely a sign of jaundice. Most cases of jaundice are normal, but jaundice can sometimes indicate an underlying medical condition. Bilirubin is toxic to brain cells. If a baby has severe jaundice, bilirubin may enter the brain, causing a condition known as acute bilirubin encephalopathy. Kernicterus is a syndrome that occurs when acute bilirubin encephalopathy causes permanent brain damage. Kernicterus can cause involuntary and uncontrollable movements (athetoid cerebral palsy), permanent upward gaze, hearing loss, and improper tooth enamel development.

If you notice symptoms such as listlessness, fever of more than 100°F (38°C), difficulty waking, high-pitched crying, and poor sucking or feeding, please contact your doctor immediately. The best preventive action for infant jaundice is adequate feeding. Breast-fed infants should have eight to 12 feedings a day for the first several days of life. Exclusive breastfeeding save lives! Breastfeed your baby now!

PNFP Rowence F. Zorilla, RND

References:

1. Understanding Newborn Jaundice

Medically reviewed by Karen Gill, M.D. — Written by Danielle Moores on July 25, 2017

https://www.healthline.com/health/newborn-jaundice