Understanding Newborn Jaundice
What is it? A yellow complexion to the skin that is caused by increased levels of bilirubin in the body. Jaundice affects 50% of newborns when the liver is still learning to process bilirubin. Most jaundice ends up being harmless and resolves on it's own, but in the first week of life it is especially important to check in with your medical provider.
Common Types:
- Physiological: Starts day 2-3, peaks day 4-5, resolves in 1-2 weeks
- Breastfeeding-related: Poor intake causing slow bilirubin clearance
- Breastmilk jaundice: Lasts 3-12 weeks but harmless
- Pathological: Starts first 24 hours, may need urgent treatment
Common Signs to Monitor
✅ Normal/Expected:
- Mild jaundice limited to face and chest only
- Baby feeding well and having regular stools
- Gradual improvement after day 4-5
- At least 6 wet diapers and 3 stools daily after day 5 of life
⚠️ Watch For:
- Jaundice spreading to abdomen, arms, or legs
- Whites of eyes turning yellow
- Baby feeding poorly or hard to wake
- Fewer than 3 stools daily after day 5 of life
- Skin becoming darker yellow
How to Treat at Home
Optimize Feeding:
- Breastfed: Every 1.5-2.5 hours during day, don't sleep >4 hours at night
- Bottle-fed: Every 2-3 hours during day, don't sleep >4 hours at night
- Good feeding helps carry bilirubin out through stool
Monitor Progress:
- Check jaundice daily in bright white light near window
- Press finger on skin, look for yellow before pink returns
- Track stool frequency - yellow stools contain bilirubin
- Ensure at least 6 wet diapers and 3 soft stools daily
- Keep follow-up appointments for monitoring
Weight Expectations:
- Babies lose some weight in the first week of life (rarely >7% birth weight)
- Formula-fed: back to birth weight by 7 days
- Breastfed: back to birth weight by 10 days
- Then gain ~1 ounce daily
When to Contact Poppins
📱 Contact us again for:
- Questions about feeding frequency or techniques
- Concerns about weight gain or stool output
- Jaundice seems to be getting worse
- Guidance on when to schedule weight check
When to Visit Your Pediatrician
🩺 Go to an in-person appointment when:
- Jaundice extends to belly, arms, or legs
- Whites of eyes turn yellow
- Baby hard to wake or feeding poorly
- Jaundice lasts >14 days (formula-fed) or >3 weeks (breastfed)
When to Go to the ER
🚨 Seek immediate emergency care if:
- Baby acting very sick or abnormal
- Extreme difficulty waking baby
- Baby not feeding at all
- Signs of severe dehydration
We'll check in with you in 24-48 hours to assess jaundice progression. If your gut tells you something is wrong, don't hesitate to reach out.
