Why does newborn baby get jaundice

Additionally, high levels of bilirubin can put a baby at risk for deafness , cerebral palsy , or other forms of brain damage. The American Academy of Pediatrics AAP recommends that all newborn babies be examined for jaundice before discharge from the hospital and again when the baby is between 3 and 5 days old. The yellowing may begin within 2 to 4 days after birth and may start in the face before spreading down across the body.

Most cases of jaundice are normal, but sometimes jaundice can indicate an underlying medical condition. Severe jaundice also increases the risk of bilirubin passing into the brain, which can cause permanent brain damage.

The hospital discharges most mothers and newborns within 72 hours of delivery. A distinct yellow coloring confirms that a baby has jaundice, but additional tests may be needed to determine the severity of the jaundice. Babies who develop jaundice in the first 24 hours of life should have bilirubin levels measured immediately, either through a skin test or blood test.

This may include testing your baby for their complete blood count CBC , blood type, and Rhesus factor Rh incompatibility. Additionally, a Coombs test may be done to check for increased red blood cell breakdown.

Frequent feedings between 8 to 12 times a day will help babies pass bilirubin through their bodies. More severe jaundice may require other treatments.

In phototherapy, your baby will be placed on a special bed under a blue spectrum light while wearing only a diaper and special protective goggles. A fiber-optic blanket may also be placed underneath your baby. It's unclear why breastfed babies are more likely to develop jaundice, but a number of theories have been suggested.

For example, it may be that breast milk contains certain substances that reduce the ability of the liver to process bilirubin. Sometimes jaundice may be caused by another health problem. This is known as pathological jaundice. An inherited enzyme deficiency known as glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase G6PD could also lead to jaundice or kernicterus. Your baby's jaundice symptoms will need to be closely monitored.

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If the bilirubin level is not too high or is not rising quickly, you can do phototherapy at home with a fiberoptic blanket, which has tiny bright lights in it. You may also use a bed that shines light up from the mattress. In the most severe cases of jaundice, an exchange transfusion is required.

In this procedure, the baby's blood is replaced with fresh blood. Giving intravenous immunoglobulin to babies who have severe jaundice may also be effective in reducing bilirubin levels. Newborn jaundice is not harmful most of the time.

For most babies, jaundice will get better without treatment within 1 to 2 weeks. A very high level of bilirubin can damage the brain. This is called kernicterus. The condition is almost always diagnosed before the level becomes high enough to cause this damage.

Treatment is usually effective. Jaundice is an emergency if the baby has a fever, has become listless, or is not feeding well. Jaundice may be dangerous in high-risk newborns. Jaundice is generally NOT dangerous in babies who were born full term and who do not have other medical problems.

Call the infant's provider if:. Talk with your baby's provider if you have questions. In newborns, some degree of jaundice is normal and probably not preventable. The risk for serious jaundice can often be reduced by feeding babies at least 8 to 12 times a day for the first several days and by carefully identifying infants at highest risk.

All pregnant women should be tested for blood type and unusual antibodies. If the mother is Rh negative, follow-up testing on the infant's cord is recommended. This may also be done if the mother's blood type is O positive.

Careful monitoring of all babies during the first 5 days of life can prevent most complications of jaundice. This includes:. Jaundice of the newborn; Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia; Bili lights - jaundice; Infant - yellow skin; Newborn - yellow skin. Hematology and oncology. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Neonatal jaundice and liver diseases.