Newborn jaundice is a very common situation. Almost all newborns will experience this symptom in the first few days after birth.So why is this?
Before birth, the mothers liver will clear the chemicals called bilirubin accumulated in the baby.But after birth, the babys liver needs some time to fully play this role.This has led to the accumulation of bilirubin in the babys body, so that the skin and eyes are yellow.In most cases, this kind of jaundice is harmless and will fade by itself within a few days or a few weeks.
How to determine whether the baby is suffering from jaundice? The easiest way is to observe the color of skin and eyes in white light.Generally speaking, jaundice first appears on the face, and then gradually spreads to other parts of the body.Babies with darker skin tone may be slightly difficult to observe.
Although most neonatal jaundice is harmless, in a few cases, excessive bilirubin levels may cause serious consequences, including brain damage.Therefore, it is important to check the level of bilirubin regularly.Doctors usually perform their first examination within 24 hours after birth, and check again before the baby is discharged.If the level of bilirubin is high, doctors may recommend further monitoring or adopt phototherapy measures.
Breastfeeding is also related to neonatal jaundice.Studies have found that breastfeeding babies are more prone to jaundice than formula milk.This may be caused by the first few days after birth, and the supply of breast milk is not enough.Therefore, the doctor suggested that 8-12 breastfeeding should be carried out 8-12 times a day in the first few days to help increase the supply of milk, thereby reducing bilirubin levels.If breastfeeding is difficult, you can seek help from professionals.
In addition to regularly checking the level of bilirubin, there are some cases to seek medical treatment in time.If you find that your babys skin or eyes become more yellow, or if you have symptoms such as difficulty in awakening, irritability, and not eating normally, you should inform your doctor in time.This may indicate that the level of bilirubin has risen to the degree of treatment.
For newborn jaundice that needs to be treated, the most common method is phototherapy.Placing your baby in a special light source can effectively reduce the level of bilirubin in the body.Both phototherapy can be performed in hospitals or homes.In some extreme cases, doctors may recommend blood transfusion or other auxiliary treatment.
In general, most of the newborn jaundice is harmless and it will fade by itself within a few weeks.However, parents still need to pay close attention to the babys symptoms and conduct bilirubin levels on time to ensure timely finding and treatment of possible problems.At the same time, for babies with breast milk, ensuring sufficient milk supply can also help relieve jaundice.
