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As a new mom-to-be, you meticulously prepare for every conceivable scenario. You spend months preparing, researching, and reading up on the “top ten” things you are told to expect as a new parent. However, even after reading all baby books and gathering advice from seasoned parents, there is always that 11th element that is unexpected and not in any parenting manual that you have read. One of those things for me was newborn jaundice. My newborn had jaundice, and I had never heard of or read about jaundice before. All I knew was that it was concerning because it required her to be admitted to the hospital for a few days for treatment. It turned out, however, that this was a hurdle many parents face. Newborn jaundice is a common occurrence that affects many babies during their first few days of life.

In this article, Nurse Mihlali Pitso answers 5 important questions about newborn jaundice and takes us through what newborn jaundice is, why it happens, when to be concerned, and most importantly, how to manage it.

1. What is newborn jaundice?

Newborn jaundice is a condition where a newborn has a yellow discolouration of their skin and eyes. This can happen within the first 24 hours after birth, which is pathological, a more concerning form of jaundice that occurs due to an underlying medical condition (mostly abnormal and uncommon). It can also happen between 3 days (72 hours) and 7 days after birth. This type of jaundice is more common and affects many newborns because of normal physiological processes in the newborn.

2. How do you know if your newborn has jaundice? 

Observe the colour of your newborn under natural light. Look at the colour of their skin and the white part of their eyes. If they are jaundiced, the skin or eyes will be yellow. In darker newborns, usually, it will be identified through the colour of the white of the eyes. It is important for moms to take their newborns to their 3-6 days postnatal visit so that their newborns can be assessed by a healthcare professional for jaundice. If the baby develops yellowing skin after 7 days after birth, consult a healthcare professional about the colour of the baby’s skin if unsure.

3. What causes jaundice in newborns, and how is it treated?

If it is physiological jaundice (usually happens between days 3 to 7 days after birth), it is caused by excess bilirubin in the blood, which is a result of the breakdown of red blood cells in the neonates’ blood. Newborn red blood cells have a shorter life span than adults. Therefore, they break down much more quickly and release bilirubin. The newborn liver is not mature enough to remove the bilirubin from the blood, so it builds up and causes the yellowing of the skin and eyes.

Management of mild jaundice at home can involve frequent feeding of the neonate and exposing the neonate to the sun. Moms should consult their healthcare providers about this. If the levels of bilirubin in the blood are too high, phototherapy can be commenced by putting the baby under blue light to remove the excess bilirubin from the blood.

Other causes of jaundice in the newborn, which are pathological could be due to a blood infection, a baby having a different blood type than you, bruising from a difficult birth or having too many red blood cells.

4. How long does it take for jaundice to go away in newborns?

If the jaundice is physiological, the newborn’s liver is usually matured by two weeks of age, so it should resolve within two weeks. If it was caused by any other factor, it might vary according to the treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider about your baby’s jaundice.

5. When should you be worried about jaundice in newborns?

It is usually pathological if it appears within the first 24 hours after birth, therefore always consult your healthcare provider if you’ve been discharged from the hospital and notice yellowing of your baby’s skin within 24 hours after birth. However, even if it appears after 24 hours, notify your healthcare provider so they can assess your baby.

Acknowledgements:

A special thank you to Nurse Mihlali Pitso for her contribution to this article. Please follow her amazing work on Instagram: https://instagram.com/nurse_hlalis/.  She’s also on YouTube (@Nurse Hlalis), where she shares all things about health.