Jaundice
Jaundice is pretty common in
newborn babies and you’ll probably notice that your baby has a slight yellowish
tinge to his skin in the first days after his birth.
It’s caused by a breakdown
of red blood cells, which creates an excess of a pigment called bilirubin. Your
newborn’s immature liver is unable to start breaking down bilirubin until he’s
around a week old.
In most babies jaundice clears
up by itself within two weeks and needs no treatment, but some babies may need
phototherapy. This involves your baby spending some time exposed to ultraviolet
light, which helps break down the bilirubin.
It’s possible for some breastfed
babies to develop jaundice because breast milk can interfere with their ability
to break down bilirubin. It can continue for several weeks ands your
pediatrician may recommend you take a short break from breastfeeding him so his
bilirubin levels fall. During this time you can keep up your milk supply by
expressing with a breast pump. Less common causes of jaundice are blood type
incompatibility between you and your baby, liver and intestinal problems and
prematurity. Simple blood tests can be done to test for jaundice, and to rule
out anything underlying causes.
The information in this feature is intended for
educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the
health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a
doctor or other healthcare professional.
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Last Modified: 13/05/2007
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