Caring for babies can be very difficult. This is especially so for first-time parents, who may not have had experience looking after newborns and panic at every seemingly abnormal thing they observe in their babies. One such occurrence is the yellowing of skin, medically termed as neonatal jaundice.
Neonatal jaundice occurs because of unconjugated bilirubin accumulating in the bloodstream. This accumulation is not always harmful, depending on when it appears in the newborn. As a general rule of thumb, jaundice (yellowed skin) appearing within 24 hours of birth or persisting after 14 days of age is always abnormal, and immediate medical attention should be sought.
Jaundice that occurs after 24 hours of birth and fades away by 14 days of age is usually harmless. It can be attributed to either insufficient fluid and nutrient intake, or certain factors present in the breast milk. Despite the baby looking yellow, you can rest assured that there will be no impact on growth and development at all in such instances.
Worried about your baby? Don't hesitate to consult your doctor!
