5 Things You May Not Know About Your Newborn's Jaundice

Hearing that your newborn has been diagnosed with jaundice can be scary at first, if it’s something you’re not familiar with. But don't worry! The more you learn about neonatal jaundice, the more you'll realize that this condition is actually really common and usually harmless. Not to mention, treatments like SnugLit can help ensure that jaundice won’t be a major disruption to your exciting new experience with your newborn.

It’s Very Common in Newborns
Most babies are actually affected by jaundice to some extent. This condition is present in 60% of full-term newborns and up to 80% of premature babies.

Frequent Breastfeeding Helps
Frequently breastfeeding your baby is actually a great way to keep their bilirubin levels down. Most newborns should do so about 8-12 times per day. Not only can this help improve the mother’s milk supply, it can also help decrease bilirubin levels since bowel movements will increase as well, allowing for excretion of excess bilirubin. Luckily with SnugLit, you won’t have to remove your baby from treatment to be able to breastfeed!

Phototherapy is a Common Treatment
Based on a newborn's age, severity, and cause of jaundice, many babies require treatment to lower their bilirubin levels. One of the most commonly recommended treatments is phototherapy- a type of light treatment that uses blue light. During this treatment, your baby is exposed to as much of this light as possible. It gets absorbed by their skin and blood to help change bilirubin into a form that can be safely passed through their system. 
 
Risk Factors and Causes
The main risk factors and causes for severe jaundice include:

• Premature birth
• Excessive bruising during birth
• Blood type incompatibility between mother and baby
• Underdeveloped or malfunctioning liver
• Difficulties with feeding
• Medical conditions, such as blood clotting problems
• Red blood cell abnormalities
• Enzyme deficiency
• Infections
• Internal bleeding
• Race (East Asian backgrounds have an increased risk)

When You’ll Notice It
One of the first signs of jaundice is the yellowing of your baby’s skin. Since this coloration may not be obvious, you can actually check for this condition by gently pressing on your baby’s nose or forehead to see if the skin looks yellow when you let your finger up. Most newborns have physiological jaundice, which is considered mild and short-lasting. You’ll generally notice this within the first 2-4 days after birth.

Disclaimer: The contents of this article are created for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for the advice of a medical professional. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider if you have any medical concerns.