A Common Issue for Newborn Babies is Jaundice
A common issue for newborn babies is jaundice. It can be scary and downright frightening to hear that your baby has a medical condition but do not worry as it is very treatable and almost always cured.
What is Jaundice?
Jaundice is caused by a build-up of bilirubin in the blood, resulting in a yellow tinge to the skin and the whites of the eyes. Your Baby may appear with a slightly ruddy or red skin tone, while others look yellow. This level of bilirubin varies and can actually peak a few days after birth. This is important to work closely with your pediatrician in the hospital to find out if your baby’s jaundice is severe.
This build-up of bilirubin happens fast and a newborn’s body cannot excrete it fast enough. Their livers are smaller and not able to handle the sudden surge of build-up. Simple put jaundice is when your baby has more red blood cells than he needs.
According to a study, Jaundice is very common. Occurring in around 60% of newborn babies during their first week of life, this figure rises to 80% in pre-term babies (babies born early). Jaundice is more common in babies who are breastfed, and around 10% of breastfed babies will still have jaundice when they are one month old.