What is jaundice?
When babies are born they have a high level of a chemical called bilirubin in their blood. Sometimes it can take a few days for their liver to break this down, resulting in jaundice.
Jaundice affects around 6 in 10 newborn babies in their first few days of life so it really is quite common. If your baby has it, their skin will be a yellowish-green colour or the whites of their eyes will look yellow.
How long does jaundice last?
Your baby’s skin should turn back to a ealthier colour within a few days or after a week. Breastfeeding may also help, due to there being a natural substance in your milk – so if you are feeding this way, feel free to feed on demand!
In a small number of cases, jaundice can indicate a problem with the liver. If your baby is still jaundiced after two weeks, speak to your doctor.
What can you do to treat jaundice?
A mild case of jaundice should disappear on its own without any treatment.
If it continues, your doctor may decide that your baby would benefit from phototherapy – a treatment that involves absorbing light from an ultraviolet lamp, called a bili-lamp, for a couple of days.
It’s important to let your doctor know if you notice the signs of jaundice so that they can help keep an eye on your baby’s symptoms too.