About jaundice in newborns
Jaundice in newborns happens when there’s an overload of bilirubin in a baby’s blood. This can make the baby’s skin and eye whites go yellow.
Bilirubin is a waste product that’s produced when old red blood cells break down. Usually, the liver processes bilirubin and mixes it into bile. Bile then goes from the liver to the digestive tract and finally comes out of the body in poo. In newborns, several things can stop this happening properly, which leads to a bilirubin overload.
Types of jaundice in newborns
Physiological jaundice
In physiological jaundice, babies’ livers aren’t yet developed enough to get rid of bilirubin.
This type of jaundice is very common. It occurs in about 3 in 5 newborns. It usually gets better when your baby’s liver is mature enough to process bilirubin properly.
Breastmilk jaundice
Breastfed babies often get breastmilk jaundice. This is when a chemical in the mother’s breastmilk interferes with the baby’s ability to get rid of bilirubin. This type of jaundice often happens a few days after birth.
Breastmilk jaundice isn’t harmful and usually sorts itself out after several weeks.
Breastfeeding jaundice
Breastfeeding jaundice happens when babies get dehydrated because of problems with breastfeeding. They need fluids to reduce bilirubin levels.
Breastfeeding jaundice usually gets better when babies get more fluids.
Jaundice from delayed cord clamping
Babies can get jaundice if there’s been a delay in getting their umbilical cord clamped and cut. Delayed clamping can cause there to be too many red blood cells in a baby’s blood. It means that there are more red blood cells than normal for the liver to process, so the bilirubin builds up.
This type of jaundice usually just needs monitoring and gets better by itself after 1-2 weeks.
Jaundice from birth interventions
Babies can get jaundice when they’re bruised because of interventions at birth, like forceps birth. The red blood cells from this bruising break down and bilirubin builds up.
This type of jaundice usually just needs monitoring and gets better by itself after 1-2 weeks.
Blood type incompatibility jaundice
This is a rare type of jaundice, which happens when the mother’s and baby’s blood groups are incompatible.
This isn’t usually a problem during a first pregnancy because the mother’s and the baby’s bloodstreams don’t mix. But during the delivery, some of the baby’s blood might mix with the mother’s blood. The mother then develops antibodies that become active during her next pregnancy and cross the placenta to attack a second baby’s red blood cells.
The destruction of these red blood cells in the second baby releases bilirubin into that baby’s bloodstream, which results in jaundice. If this happens, you usually see it in the first 24 hours after birth.
Babies with this kind of jaundice need treatment.
Biliary atresia
Biliary atresia is a rare cause of jaundice in babies.
It happens when the tiny tubes that carry bile from the liver to the intestine don’t work. Babies with this condition usually grow as expected and look well at first, but they get very ill with serious liver disease if they aren’t diagnosed and treated early.
Babies with this kind of jaundice usually start to show signs at 2-8 weeks of age.
Babies with this kind of jaundice need surgical treatment.
Symptoms of jaundice in newborns
Newborn jaundice causes your baby’s skin and the whites of their eyes to go a yellow colour.
The jaundice typically starts on the face and head. If the level of bilirubin increases, the colour spreads to the body.
Babies might also be drowsy and have feeding difficulties.
Babies with biliary atresia also have pale-looking poo and darker urine.
Medical help: when to get it for newborns who have jaundice
Your child and family health nurse, midwife, GP or paediatrician should check and monitor your newborn for jaundice.
You should take your baby to the GP if your baby:
- is unwell, feeding poorly and not gaining enough weight
- has pale poo or dark wee
- looks jaundiced.
Tests for jaundice in newborns
Medical staff might measure the level of your baby’s jaundice using a bilirubinometer, which is a special machine that’s briefly placed on your baby’s skin. But they might also need to do a heel prick test to get a more accurate measurement of the level of bilirubin in your baby’s blood.
Sometimes if the levels of jaundice are high or medical staff are worried that your baby has a more serious condition, your baby will need other tests to find the cause.
Treatment of jaundice in newborns
Treatment for newborn jaundice depends on how serious it is and what has caused it.
Physiological jaundice and jaundice from delayed cord clamping or birth interventions
Babies who develop jaundice several days after birth usually just need careful monitoring by their parents. These babies don’t usually have to stay in hospital.
If your baby’s bilirubin levels are high, they might have phototherapy treatment for a few days. This treatment uses a special type of blue light that helps break down the bilirubin overload.
Babies most commonly get phototherapy by being placed naked in a cot under a phototherapy lamp for 2-3 days in hospital. Some hospitals offer a biliblanket. This is a special blanket for wrapping your baby. You can use a biliblanket to give your baby phototherapy treatment at home. It’s important to supervise your baby when they’re wrapped in a biliblanket.
Most babies cope well with phototherapy treatment. Phototherapy has minimal side effects, although your baby might have a mild rash and runny poo for a few days. Some babies have small fluid losses during phototherapy, so they might need extra feeds.
Breastmilk jaundice
If your baby has breastmilk jaundice, you can keep breastfeeding. This type of jaundice is usually mild and should get better by itself with time. Talk with your child and family health nurse or doctor if you’re worried about what to do.
Breastfeeding jaundice
Babies with breastfeeding jaundice get better when they have more feeds. Your child and family health nurse or a lactation consultant can help with breastfeeding.
Severe or blood type incompatibility jaundice
Severe jaundice, in which bilirubin levels are very high, might need treatment with an exchange transfusion. This is when a baby’s own blood is replaced with compatible fresh blood. This is usually a treatment for blood type incompatibility jaundice, but it isn’t common.
Biliary atresia jaundice
If your baby has jaundice caused by biliary atresia, they’ll need an urgent operation to help with bile drainage.
If severe jaundice isn’t treated, it can cause brain damage.
Prevention of jaundice in newborns
Only jaundice caused by a certain type of blood incompatibility is preventable.
If your doctor or health professional thinks this type of jaundice might be a problem, you’ll get an anti-D injection immediately after delivery. This can prevent complications in subsequent pregnancies.