Jaundice

Some babies, particulary boys, are born with a tendency to jaundice. This is tested for by slight pressure on the baby's skin and if it is yellow and not white then the child is considered to possible be jaundice. Placing that child in natural sunlight each day for short periods of time up to say 10 minutes will assist the body to correct this. Please do not leave the child unattended or in the sun long enough to cause sunburn. There are mineral salts which are suitable for very young babies that can be used to assist the liver even further. Should the jaundice be severe, or you have any doubts, then it is important that the baby be checked by a medical practitioner. http://www.chw.edu.au/parents/factsheets/jaundice_in_babies.htm

Disclaimer: This fact sheet is for education purposes only. Please consult with your doctor or other health professional to make sure this information is right for your child.

Should I worry about my newborn getting jaundice?

What causes it?

How common is jaundice in newborns?

How can jaundice be treated?

How can I tell if my baby has jaundice?

Should I worry about my newborn getting jaundice?

More than half of all normal, healthy babies develop a yellowish tinge to their skin in the first few days of life. If your baby does, it's probably nothing to worry about, but you should mention it to your midwife or health visitor, especially if your baby's abdomen or legs look yellow. If your child was born full-term, within a week she'll probably look like a pink-cheeked cherub. It may take a bit longer for her skin to take on a rosy glow if she was born early.

What causes it?

Jaundice develops in a healthy baby when the blood contains an excess of bilirubin - a chemical produced during the normal breakdown of old red blood cells. Newborns tend to have higher levels because they have extra oxygen-carrying red blood cells and their young livers can't metabolise the excess bilirubin. As bilirubin levels rise above normal, the yellowness of jaundice moves downwards from head, to neck, then chest, until, in severe cases, it finally reaches the toes. So-called physiological jaundice (unlike the rare, more serious version caused by liver disease or maternal blood incompatability) usually causes no damage in healthy full-term infants.

In very rare instances, jaundiced newborns may suffer damage to the nervous system - but only when bilirubin levels are extremely elevated.

How common is jaundice in newborns?

• 60 per cent of full-term infants develop jaundice on the second or third day after birth. It disappears after one week.

• 80 per cent of premature babies develop it between the fifth and seventh days after delivery. It usually disappears within two months of birth.

How can jaundice be treated?

If your baby looks jaundiced, your doctor may suggest tests to measure bilirubin levels in her blood and determine whether treatment is necessary. If the baby was born at term and is otherwise healthy, most doctors will not begin treatment unless the bilirubin level is over 20 milligrams per decilitre of blood. Since the early 1970s, jaundice has been treated with phototherapy, a process in which infants are exposed to fluorescent-type lights which break down excess bilirubin so it can be excreted through the baby's liver. The baby usually lies naked under the lights for a day or two, with her eyes covered by a protective mask.

If your baby's level of bilirubin doesn't require phototherapy, you can still help bring it down by giving her a little exposure to sunlight in the early morning or late afternoon.

If your baby has the rare type of blood-type incompatibility, and the bilirubin levels rise to dangerously high levels, your baby may need to have a blood transfusion. But rest assured, the Rh blood test you had when you were pregnant to test for Rhesus incompatability, will alert you in advance if you have a possible incompatibility with your infant. You will have been given anti-D injections to avoid this problem.

How can I tell if my baby has jaundice?

Experts recommend this quick home test to check for jaundice: In a well-lit room, apply gentle pressure to your baby's chest; if there's a yellow tinge to the skin as the pressure is released, consult your GP or midwife. (This technique works best for fair-skinned children; for others, check for yellowness in the whites of the eyes or gums.)

Remember, jaundice is a temporary condition which usually clears up quickly without any intervention and has no long-term effects (except in severe cases). If you have any doubts, check with your GP or midwife to make sure you're taking the right steps to getting your baby back in the pink.

Reviewed May 2006

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Reader comments
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My daughter was born on 13 November 2006 at 34 weeks 4 days. She also had jaundice and received phototherapy via a 'bili blanket' for 5 days. She is now 5 weeks old and still has the yellow tinge to the skin on her face. I have been told to expose her to filtered sunlight for 10-15 minutes, 2-3 times a day. The vitamin D apparently helps the yellow fade. I am also breastfeeding and was told there is a strain of jaundice called 'breastmilk jaundice'. Check with your doctor if you are worried. There is no harm in asking questions.
19 Dec, 2006 - Brooke

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My babygirl was born on 29 November 2006 and on day 3 she was yellow with a billirubin level of 243. On day 4 the level decreased to 211 and on day 5 it increased to 225. She was on phototherapy for 2 days and the Paeditrician then indicated it is not necessary for further treatment. It is day 11 and she is still yellow. Is this OK or should I take her back for treatment? The Paeditrician said that because I am breastfeeding it would take longer....? Please help.
10 Dec, 2006 - Winolene

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