Jaundice in a new born baby is nothing new and is considered very common but proper care should be taken so that it does not get worse. Now it is important to know that what causes jaundice in a new born baby? Newborn jaundice is a condition which is marked by high levels of bilirubin in the blood. The increased bilirubin cause the infant’s skin and whites of the eyes (sclera) to look yellow.
It is caused by high amount of bilirubin, bilirubin is a pigment formed as a result of the break down of the Red cells in the blood. Bilirubin is eliminated from the body by the liver. The Liver of the newborn usually takes some time to adjust to excrete all the billirubin in the blood so that it can be removed from the body through the stools.
Types of Jaundice in a New Born Baby are:
Breastfeeding jaundice: This type of jaundice is caused when a mother is not able to fully satisfy her new born baby through the adequate amounts of breast milk. This is not caused by a problem with the breast milk itself, but by the baby not getting enough to drink.
Jaundice of prematurity: Jaundice in premature babies is quite normal it occurs frequently because premature babies are quite inefficient to even get ready to excrete bilirubin effectively. Jaundice in premature babies needs to be treated at a lower bilirubin level than in full term babies in order to avoid complications.
Physiological (normal) jaundice: Jaundice which is known as Normal Jaundice is occurring in most newborns, this mild jaundice is due to the immaturity of the baby’s liver, which leads to a slow processing of bilirubin. It generally appears at 2 to 4 days of age and disappears by 1 to 2 weeks of age.
Symptoms of Jaundice in a New Born Baby
Jaundice for one or the other reason, usually appears around the second or third day after the baby is born. It begins from the head of the baby and moves downwards. A jaundiced baby’s skin will appear yellow initially on the face, followed by the chest and stomach, and finally, the legs. It can also cause the white portion of an infant’s eyes to appear yellow.