May is Newborn Jaundice Awareness Month. This years theme by the Paediatric Society of Ghana is “Early initiation of Breastfeeding Keeps the Yellow Away,”. this calls for a shift from awareness to action, ensuring every jaundiced newborn in Ghana gets the tests and care they need early.
Newborn jaundice is yellow discoloration of a newborn babys skin and eyes. Infant jaundice occurs because the babys blood contains an excess of bilirubin (bil-ih-ROO-bin), a yellow pigment of red blood cells.
Infant jaundice is a common condition, particularly in babies born before 38 weeks gestation (preterm babies) and some breast-fed babies. Infant jaundice usually occurs because a babys liver is not mature enough to get rid of bilirubin in the bloodstream. In some babies, an underlying disease may cause infant jaundice.
Most infants born between 35 weeks gestation and full term need no treatment for jaundice. Rarely, an unusually high blood level of bilirubin can place a newborn at risk of brain damage, particularly in the presence of certain risk factors for severe jaundice.
Symptoms
Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes — the main sign of infant jaundice — usually appears between the second and fourth day after birth.
To check for infant jaundice, press gently on your babys forehead or nose. If the skin looks yellow where you pressed, it is likely your baby has mild jaundice. If your baby does not have jaundice, the skin color should simply look slightly lighter than its normal color for a moment.
Examine your baby in good lighting conditions, preferably in natural daylight.
When to see a doctor
Most hospitals have a policy of examining babies for jaundice before discharge. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that newborns be examined for jaundice during routine medical checks and at least every eight to 12 hours while in the hospital.
Your baby should be examined for jaundice between the third and seventh day after birth, when bilirubin levels usually peak. If your baby is discharged earlier than 72 hours after birth, make a follow-up appointment to look for jaundice within two days of discharge.
The following signs or symptoms may indicate severe jaundice or complications from excess bilirubin. Call your doctor if:
Your babys skin becomes more yellow
The skin on your babys the abdomen, arms or legs looks yellow
The whites of your babys eyes look yellow
Your baby seems listless or sick or is difficult to awaken
Your baby is not gaining weight or is feeding poorly
Your baby makes high-pitched cries
Your baby develops any other signs or symptoms that concern you
