Bilirubin is a yellow substance produced when red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body, are broken down.
Jaundice is caused by the build-up of bilirubin in the blood. If you're monitoring your baby's jaundice at home, it's also important to contact your midwife straight away if your baby's symptoms quickly get worse or they become very reluctant to feed.įind out more about diagnosing jaundice in babies Why does my baby have jaundice? While jaundice is not usually a cause for concern, it's important to determine whether your baby needs treatment. If your baby develops signs of jaundice after this time, speak to your midwife, health visitor or a GP as soon as possible for advice. Your baby will be examined for signs of jaundice within 72 hours of being born as part of the newborn physical examination. The symptoms of newborn jaundice usually develop 2 days after the birth and tend to get better without treatment by the time the baby is about 2 weeks old.įind out more about the symptoms of jaundice in babies
It might be easier to see on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet. Yellowing of the skin can be more difficult to see in brown or black skin. The medical term for jaundice in babies is neonatal jaundice. It causes yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. Jaundice in newborn babies is common and usually harmless.
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