When I learned that my newborn had to be admitted to the hospital due to jaundice, I was devastated. As a pediatrician, I knew exactly what jaundice was, yet it was still such a scary experience. Thankfully, his levels came down quickly, and we were sent home the next day.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, for most babies, jaundice causes no lasting harm, but it\u2019s extremely important to check for it and treat it when necessary.<\/p>\n
Jaundice causes a yellow cast to appear in someone\u2019s eyes and skin. It happens in newborn babies because their liver is still developing, and it\u2019s unable to properly process a compound in the blood called bilirubin. As the bilirubin builds up in the bloodstream, your baby may develop jaundice and appear yellow.\u00a0 This yellowing often starts within the first few days of life and then decreases as their liver matures. Jaundice may be more easily seen on babies with lighter skin tones, but it can happen to all babies regardless of their skin color.<\/p>\n
While most babies recover smoothly from elevated levels of jaundice, when it gets too high (usually 25 mg\/dL or above), bilirubin can cross the blood-brain barrier and cause brain damage. We never want this to happen, so timely treatment is critical.<\/p>\n
If your baby has one or more of the following, it may increase their risk of getting jaundice after you bring them home from the hospital:<\/p>\n
There are two ways to measure bilirubin.<\/p>\n
One is with a simple hand-held device. While your baby was in the hospital after birth, you might have noticed their clinician press a small machine up to their chest. While convenient, this device gives only an estimate of your baby\u2019s bilirubin or jaundice level.<\/p>\n
The other way is using a heel stick \u2013 drawing a small amount of blood from your baby\u2019s heel. While it\u2019s not easy to see your baby hurt by the needle prick, this is the more accurate way to find the actual bilirubin level in their bloodstream. It\u2019s also the most accurate way to determine if your baby has jaundice if they have a darker skin tone.<\/p>\n
Depending on the level, there are a few possibilities that may occur. Sometimes, your doctor may ask you to come back for a repeat check in the office, or they may request that you go get a heel stick.<\/p>\n
If the number is at a certain level, your baby may need a treatment called phototherapy. Phototherapy can often be done at home with a \u201cbili blanket,\u201d or you may be asked to bring your baby to the hospital for phototherapy there.<\/p>\n
Feed, feed, feed<\/a>! The more your baby poops, the more bilirubin they release, and that will help their jaundice level go down. Placing your baby under the sun is not<\/strong> a safe treatment for jaundice, and we do not recommend it.<\/p>\n If you see your baby getting sleepier, becoming more difficult to wake for feedings, or looking more yellow in the skin and\/or the eyes, please seek medical attention right away.<\/p>\n Once the jaundice level is stable, your pediatrician will no longer need to check it again, and you can celebrate\u2014your baby is safely out of the woods!<\/p>\n Jaundice in Infants<\/a><\/p>\nWhen should I call my doctor? <\/strong><\/h3>\n
Resources for Parents:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
My Doctor Online<\/h4>\n
American Academy of Pediatrics<\/h4>\n