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When to Worry About Jaundice

According to babycenter.com, up to 60 percent of full-term babies develop jaundice within the first two weeks of birth. Jaundice is caused by high levels of bilirubin in the blood, because the newborn's liver is not developed enough to remove them on its own. This causes yellowing of the eyes and skin. Although most cases of jaundice are temporary, some are more serious and require treatment, according to babycenter.com.

  1. Birth

    • When your baby is born, part of her initial health evaluation involves a check for jaundice. Jaundice detected within her first 24 hours of life indicates she has a blood types incompatible with her mother's blood type. According to babycenter.com, this type of jaundice is rare, but is also a serious condition. Other more common causes of jaundice at birth are birth trauma, infection, liver disease, and prematurity. Babycenter.com states that the majority of jaundice cases in newborns are mild, and do not require treatment.

      In most cases, your baby will not show any signs of jaundice until he gets home from the hospital. Also, the yellowing of his skin may not be obvious. You can test the skin by gently pressing it with your finger or by checking his eyes and gums for yellowish tints. Your baby will be checked for jaundice during her first visit with the pediatrician. For more obvious cases of jaundice, call your doctor.

      If your infant's case of jaundice is determined as mild, she will likely not require treatment. However, her skin may still be yellowish for two more weeks, and longer if she was born prematurely, according to babycenter.com.

    When to Call a Doctor

    • Prolonged jaundice poses the risk of damage to the nervous system, according to babycenter.com. According to Paediatrics and Child Health, if your infant has untreated jaundice for 14 days, call your doctor. The doctor will check your infant's bilirubin levels again. If they are high, you may be referred to a gastroenterologist for treatment. Also, your infant will be evaluated for liver disease.

      However, if your baby was born prematurely, his jaundice may last up to two months without being a serious case, according to babycenter.com. To rule out liver damage, your doctor may recommend routine blood work to check your baby's bilirubin levels.

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