Parents may be alarmed to notice their baby ‘yellowing’ within a few days of birth.  Starting at the head and moving down towards the toes, jaundice is a common newborn condition caused by an excess of bilirubin in the blood.

Over half of all newborns experience jaundice to some degree.  Babies often produce more bilirubin than their immature livers can filter from their blood, resulting in the build-up.  Parents or nurses usually notice yellowing on the second or third day after birth, although it can appear later and last longer in premature babies. 

If your baby is jaundiced, the Doctor may decide to keep them in the hospital for observation.  The level of bilirubin in their blood will be monitored by blood tests.  Sometimes treatment is necessary to prevent a build-up of bilirubin in the brain (a condition known as kernicterus) which can cause brain damage or even death.  Treatment consists of the baby’s exposure to ultraviolet light by phototherapy.  Your baby is placed under a ‘bili-light’, which helps to break down the bilirubin in their blood.  Some hospitals offer bili-light units or fiber-optic wraps for parents to take with them and treat baby at home.

If your baby develops jaundice after leaving the hospital, report it to your Doctor as soon as possible.  Jaundice in older babies and children may indicate a liver malfunction or infection.