Jaundice

Jaundice refers to yellow color to your baby's skin. The whites of your baby's eyes may also be yellow. There are four reasons why this may happen:

1. Normal jaundice occurs because the baby's liver does not get rid of the yellow pigment (called bilirubin) on it's own. This type of jaundice occurs in about half of all newborns and starts when the baby is 2 or 3 days old. It goes away by the time your baby is two weeks old.
2. Breastfeeding jaundice occurs when your baby doesn't take enough breast milk.
3. Breast milk jaundice occurs rarely and is caused by a special substance (inhibitor) that some women produce in their milk. It starts when the baby is 4 to 7 days old. It may last 3 to 10 weeks and is not harmful.
4. An RH or ABO problem is a serious type of jaundice that occurs in the first 24 hours after birth. Using phototherapy can prevent complications caused by this type of jaundice. Phototherapy (blue light that breaks down bilirubin in the skin) can be used in the home.

Babies with breast milk jaundice need to be breastfeed more frequently (every 1 and 1/2 hours to 2 and 1/2 hours). This helps to lower the bilirubin. If your baby sleeps more than 4 hours during the night, wake him for a feeding. Do not supplement breastfeedings with glucose water.

Check for jaundice:

• since most newborns leave the hospital within 24 to 48 hours, it is important to check your baby for jaundice after you go home
• remove all clothing and look at your baby in natural daylight by a window
• notice if your baby looks yellow and observe the degree of jaundice

Call your baby's healthcare provider immediately if your baby:

• shows signs of dehydration or you think the baby is not getting enough fluid
• has jaundice in the first 24 hours after birth
• has a fever over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38.0 degrees Centigrade) or
• starts to look or act sick

Call your baby's provider during office hours if your baby:

• looks deep orange or yellow
• is not gaining weight
• has fewer than 3 bowel movements per day (because bilirubin is removed from the body through stools)
• has fewer than 6 wet diapers per day the jaundice is still present after day 14 or
• you have other questions or concerns

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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