Types of jaundice
Physical signs of jaundice
Observing your baby and measuring bilirubin levels
Treatments for jaundice
Jaundice is a yellowing of the baby's skin and eyes. It is due to the build up of a substance called 'bilirubin' in the baby's system. Bilirubin is the by-product of the normal cell breakdown of the baby's surplus red blood cells in the first week or so after the birth. The red cells are called 'haemoglobin' and their main function is to carry oxygen.
Some of the haemoglobin becomes redundant after the birth, because the baby no longer needs to share oxygen breathed in by their mother. The extra haemoglobin is nature's way of allowing the baby to share oxygen with their mother while growing inside the uterus.
The bilirubin by-product needs to be processed (or 'conjugated') by the baby's liver before it can be excreted through the baby's bowel motions. Health professionals will often refer to 'unconjugated' and 'conjugated' bilirubin, especially when performing blood tests. 'Unconjugated' bilirubin refers to the bilirubin that needs to be processed by the liver before it can be excreted by the baby's bowel. 'Conjugated' bilirubin refers to the bilirubin that has already been processed by the baby's liver and is ready for excretion.
About 50% to 70% of babies will process and excrete all the bilirubin in their system before it has a chance to accumulate. These babies will show no signs of yellowing. However, up to 30 to 50% of babies will temporarily accumulate varying levels of unconjugated bilirubin in their blood. This is because their liver cannot keep up with the amount of bilirubin that needs to be 'broken down' and processed for excretion. The accumulation of unconjugated bilirubin gives the baby's skin and eyes a yellow discolouration, known as 'jaundice'.
Most babies with jaundice will have only a slight yellow discoloration that does not cause them any health problems.