Jaundice in Newborns: Symptoms and Treatment Perfectly Healthy Baby

Every parent aspires to have a perfectly healthy baby. But some conditions like jaundice affect babies in their initial days itself. While in usual cases, jaundice is harmless and often resolves on its own, it’s essential for parents to monitor their baby and consult a healthcare provider if the symptoms persist or worsen.

In addition to managing jaundice, parents might want to consider options for their baby’s long-term health, such as stem cell banking. LifeCell offers stem cell banking services that allow parents to preserve their baby’s stem cells at birth. These cells may provide future medical benefits, offering peace of mind and a potential resource for future treatments if needed.

What Is Jaundice In Newborns?

Jaundice in newborns, also called neonatal jaundice, is a common condition in which a baby’s skin and eyes turn yellow due to high levels of bilirubin.Bilirubin is a yellow pigment produced  by the breakdown of red blood cells—in the blood. In newborns, the liver, responsible for processing bilirubin, is often immature, leading to a buildup of bilirubin in the bloodstream.

It is important to remain calm and not get scared when your baby is diagnosed with this. Approximately 60% of full-term and 80% of preterm infants develop jaundice within the first week of life. And most cases are mild and resolve without intervention. In some cases, persistent jaundice lasting beyond two weeks may indicate underlying health issues and warrants further medical evaluation.  It’s essential for parents to monitor their newborn’s condition and consult healthcare providers if jaundice persists or worsens, ensuring timely and appropriate care.

Key Symptoms Of Jaundice In Newborns

• Yellowing of the Skin and Eyes: The first sign of jaundice is the skin turning yellow. This normally begins on the face and may extend further downwards to the chest, abdomen, arms, and legs with increasing levels of bilirubin.
• Timing of Onset: Physiological jaundice, in most cases, appears after the second and third day after birth. However, jaundice may be more difficult to identify in babies with darker skin.
• Other Symptoms: In certain situations, there might be symptoms other than increased levels of bilirubin. These include irritability, refusal to feed, drowsiness, and in extreme cases, high-pitched crying or seizure. ​

When To Call A Doctor?

Although mild jaundice doesn’t require any special treatment, it’s important to keep an eye on your newborn. See a healthcare provider if:

• Jaundice shows up in the first 24 hours of life.
• The yellowing gets worse or spreads to areas other than the face and eyes.
• Your baby is sick, with symptoms like poor feeding, drowsiness, or crankiness.
• Jaundice lasts longer than two weeks in term babies or three weeks in preterm babies.

Treatment of Jaundice In Newborns

While jaundice in newborns is relatively common, in some cases certain medical procedures are carried out for treatment of the same.

• Phototherapy : This is the primary treatment for chronic jaundice. It works by shining special blue light on the baby, which helps in breaking down bilirubin in the skin. This makes it easier for the liver to break down bilirubin and remove it. The results of phototherapy depend on the brightness of the light, how much of the infant’s body is exposed, and duration of the treatment. It is normally safe, but certain side effects are possible. These include rash on the skin, dehydration, and bowel movement changes.
• Exchange Transfusion: If phototherapy is not enough to lower bilirubin levels, there may be a need for exchange transfusion. It’s a process of slowly exchanging the baby’s blood with donor blood to decrease bilirubin levels and kill antibodies responsible for red blood cell destruction. It’s a rare procedure, which usually takes place when other treatments have failed.
• Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG): If jaundice is caused because of immune-related issues, IVIG can be given. It is the process of slowing down the breakdown of red blood cells and hence, decreasing bilirubin production by giving antibodies. Parents should watch their newborn closely and seek medical advice if jaundice becomes more severe or lasts longer, to receive appropriate and timely care.

With careful steps, treatment of jaundice can be a not-so-difficult path. It’s important to be in contact with your healthcare providers to make sure your baby is safe and healthy.

Conclusion

In summary, jaundice in newborns is an ordinary disease that most newborns experience with the first days of life. Although most of the time it is mild and self-limiting, sometimes severe jaundice can require medical intervention to lower bilirubin levels and reduce complications. Parents must remain watchful and seek medical attention if jaundice does not resolve or gets worse.

As a parent, ensuring your baby’s health extends beyond immediate concerns like jaundice. It’s also important to consider future health needs. LifeCell’s stem cell banking can provide peace of mind by preserving your baby’s stem cells, offering a potential resource for future medical treatments. Stem cells are strong and can be employed in the treatment of 90+ different health issues, making stem cell banking an investment in your child’s future well-being. For any doubts or clarifications about the same, kindly discuss the available options with your healthcare provider.