What is jaundice?
When babies are born they have a high level of a yellowish pigment called bilirubin in their blood. Sometimes it can take a few days for their liver to break this down, resulting in jaundice. The liver extracts excess bilirubin but it is not fully functional in the first few days of a newborn’s life.
Jaundice affects around 6 in 10 newborn babies in their first few days of life so it really is quite common. If your baby has it, their skin will be a yellowish-orange colour or the whites of their eyes will look yellow. Jaundice most often develops after the second day, peaks between day 3-5 and disappears after 7-10 days.
Breast milk jaundice occurs on day 5-10 and can last several weeks but does not harm baby. This jaundice occurs when hormones in breast milk inhibit the baby’s enzyme production (which breaks down and helps secrete the bilirubin excess)
Jaundice babies can be very sleepy so keep feeding every 2-3 hours. Sunlight also helps to break down some of the bilirubin in the newborn baby’s skin. Try putting baby in indirect sunlight near a window for example, exposing a little of their body.
How long does jaundice last?
Your baby’s skin should turn back to a healthier colour within 7-10 days.
In a small number of cases, jaundice can indicate a problem with the liver. If your baby is still jaundiced after two weeks, or if you are concerned at any time, speak to your health care professional.
What can you do to treat jaundice?
A mild case of jaundice should disappear on its own without any treatment but you will be guided by your health care professional.
However, it is important to let your health care professional or doctor know if you notice the signs of jaundice so that they can help keep an eye on your baby’s symptoms, too.