skin which changes the bilirubin so that the

body can more easily get rid of it (called

phototherapy)
If your baby has severe jaundice caused by
Rh incompatibility, he or she may need a blood
transfusion.

Be cranky or jittery.
Arch his or her back.

Why does my baby look yellow?!

When your babys body and white part of
the eyes have a yellow tint, this is called

How can you help your baby???

You have the most important role in helping
your baby!
Have a highpitched cry.
Call your doctor
right away if
you notice any
of these
symptoms!

Look closely at your baby's skin twice a day

to make sure that the color is returning to
normal. If your baby has dark skin, look at the
white part of the eyes.
Take your baby for any follow-up testing your
doctor recommends.

Call your doctor if the yellow color gets brighter

after your baby is 3 days old.
Make sure that your baby gets enough to eat this is the best thing to help your baby's body
get rid of the extra bilirubin.

- If you are breast-feeding, feed your baby

about 8 to 12 times every 24 hours.

How is
jaundice in
newborns
diagnosed?
Physical exam
- your doctor
might ask if
you and your baby have different blood types
Probe device placed against your babys skin
to check bilirubin level
Blood test - for a complete blood count,
reticulocyte count, Coombs test (detects
antibodies against RBCs that are present
unbound in the babys serum)

How is it treated?
Your baby will be put under a type of
fluorescent light that is absorbed by your babys

jaundice. It is caused by a yellow substance

called bilirubin, which is made when the body
breaks down old red blood cells. This can be a
sign your baby has too much bilirubin in the
blood (called hyperbilirubinemia) because its
organs arent yet able to get rid of excess
amounts on its own after birth - and this is called
physiologic jaundice.
Jaundice usually appears in the first 5 days
of life, so it is important you have a follow-up
exam with your doctor when your baby is 3-5
days old. Most babies have mild jaundice,
where it goes away within a week or two,
however, jaundice should be taken seriously. If
the bilirubin level stays high and isn't treated, it
can cause brain damage called kernicterus - and
this can lead to serious lifelong problems.

What are the symptoms?

If your babys bilirubin level is high, he or she
may:
Get more yellow.
Be sluggish and not suck well.

Reference
Perry, S., Cashion, K., Lowdermilk, D.
(2010). Maternal nursing. (8 ed., pp. 490493). Maryland Heights, MO: Mosby
Elsevier.

- If you are bottle feeding, stay on your

schedule (usually about 6 to 10 feedings
every 24 hours).

- If you aren't sure that your baby is getting

enough milk, ask your doctor, a nurse, or a
lactation consultant for help.

Jaundice
in Newborns

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia = total serum

bilirubin level above 5 mg per dL