Jaundice in Newborns

Newborn jaundice is a common condition that causes a yellow tint to a baby’s skin and the whites of the eyes. It happens when bilirubin, a yellow pigment created during the normal breakdown of red blood cells, builds up in the baby’s blood.

Before birth, a parent’s liver helps remove bilirubin for the baby. After birth, the baby’s liver must take over this role. Because a newborn’s liver is still developing, it may not remove bilirubin efficiently at first. This can cause temporary jaundice during the first days of life.

How Common Is Jaundice?

Jaundice is very common in newborns. About 60% of full-term babies and up to 80% of premature babies develop some degree of jaundice in their first week of life. In most cases, it is mild and goes away on its own.

Why Jaundice Happens

The most common form of newborn jaundice is physiologic jaundice, which appears between the second and third day of life. Bilirubin levels usually peak around days three to five and then gradually decrease as the liver matures.

Some babies develop jaundice related to feeding. Breastfeeding jaundice can occur when a baby is not getting enough milk in the first days of life, which slows bilirubin removal. Breast milk jaundice is different. It is caused by natural substances in breast milk that temporarily affect how bilirubin is processed. Babies with breast milk jaundice usually feed well and gain weight normally, and the condition is not harmful.

Rarely, jaundice may be caused by blood type incompatibility, infection, liver disease, or blockage of the bile ducts. These cases require prompt medical evaluation.

Signs of Jaundice to Watch For

Jaundice usually begins on the face and moves downward to the chest, belly, arms, and legs as bilirubin levels rise. The whites of the eyes or the area under the tongue may also appear yellow.

Jaundice can be harder to see in babies with darker skin tones, but yellowing of the eyes or under the tongue is often easier to notice.

How Jaundice Is Checked

Your baby’s healthcare provider will examine your baby for jaundice before discharge and may measure bilirubin levels using a skin scan or a small blood test. Bilirubin levels are often highest between three and five days of life, which is why follow-up visits after leaving the hospital are important.

Treatment for Newborn Jaundice

Most babies with jaundice do not need treatment. Frequent feeding helps move bilirubin out of the body through stools and urine.

If bilirubin levels become too high, phototherapy may be recommended. During phototherapy, your baby is placed under special blue lights that help break down bilirubin so it can be removed more easily. This treatment is safe and effective.

In very rare cases, if phototherapy does not lower bilirubin levels, an exchange transfusion may be needed. This is uncommon and performed only in severe cases.

When to Call Your Baby’s Healthcare Provider

Contact your baby’s provider if you notice any of the following:

• Jaundice appears within the first 24 hours after birth
• Yellowing spreads beyond the face to the belly, arms, or legs
• The whites of the eyes turn yellow
• Feeding becomes difficult or less frequent
• Your baby is very sleepy or hard to wake
• Jaundice is getting worse instead of improving
• Jaundice lasts longer than 14 days

When to Seek Emergency Care

Call 911 or seek emergency care if your baby:

• Cannot be awakened
• Has a high-pitched cry
• Is very weak, stiff, limp, or unresponsive

Why Follow-Up Matters

Severe jaundice that is not treated can lead to serious complications, including a rare type of brain injury called kernicterus. With proper monitoring and timely care, these complications are highly preventable.

What to Expect

For most babies, jaundice peaks in the first week of life and gradually improves over one to two weeks. Breastfed babies may have mild jaundice for a longer period. With regular follow-up and feeding support, the vast majority of newborns recover fully.

Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Always contact your baby’s healthcare provider with questions or concerns.