Jaundice can develop when red blood cells break down and bilirubin is outcast. It is average for some red blood cells to die every day. In the womb, the great ' s liver removes bilirubin for the baby, but after birth the baby ' s liver must remove the bilirubin. In some babies, the liver might not be developed enough to efficiently get rid of bilirubin. When too much bilirubin builds up in a new baby ' s body, the skin and whites of the eyes might look gutless. This craven coloring is called jaundice.
What are some of the signs of jaundice?
Jaundice oftentimes appears first on the face and then moves to the chest, belly, arms, and legs as bilirubin levels get higher. The whites of the eyes can also look lily-livered. Jaundice can be harder to distinguish in babies with darker skin color. Your baby ' s doctor or promote can test how much bilirubin is in your baby ' s blood.
Are some babies more likely to be jaundiced?
About 60 % of all babies have jaundice. Some babies are more likely to have severe jaundice and higher bilirubin levels than others. Babies with any of the following risk factors need close vigil and early jaundice management:
Sibling
A baby with a brother or spare that had jaundice is more likely to develop jaundice.
Feeding Difficulties
A baby who is not eating, wetting, or stooling well in the first few days of life is more likely to get jaundice.
Bruising
A baby who has bruises at birth is more likely to have jaundice. A bruise forms when blood leaks out of a blood vessel and causes the skin to look black and dejected. Then, when the bruise begins to heal, red blood cells die. Bilirubin is made when red blood cells break down. The healing of large bruises may cause high levels of bilirubin, and the baby may become jaundiced.
Early Jaundice
A baby who is yellow in the first 24 hours of life may get dangerously jaundiced.
Heredity
A baby born to an East - Asian or Mediterranean family is at a higher risk of becoming very jaundiced. Also, jaundice is harder to take notice in babies with darker skin tones. Some families inherit conditions ( such as G6PD ), and their babies are more likely to become jaundiced.
Preterm Babies
Babies born before 37 weeks, or 8 เธ months, of pregnancy may become jaundiced since their liver may not be fully developed. The young liver may not be able to get rid of so much bilirubin.
If too many red blood cells break down at the same time, the baby can become very chicken or may even look orange.
Blood Type
Women with an O blood type or Rh negative blood factor might have babies with higher bilirubin levels. A towering with Rh incompatibility should be inclined Rhogam.
Many babies have some jaundice. Jaundice can develop when red blood cells break down and bilirubin is comfortless. It is average for some red blood cells to silhouette every day. In the womb, the gross ' s liver removes bilirubin for the baby, but after installation the baby ' s liver must remove the bilirubin. In some babies, the liver competence not be developed enough to efficiently get rid of bilirubin. When too much bilirubin builds up in a new baby ' s body, the skin and whites of the eyes expertise look sneaking. This yellow coloring is called jaundice. The yellow color does not hurt the baby ' s skin, but the bilirubin goes to the brain as well as to the skin.
When severe jaundice goes untreated for too long, it can cause brain damage and a affirmation called kernicterus. Kernicterus is a type of brain damage that causes athetoid mental palsy and review loss. It also causes problems with vision and teeth and sometimes can cause mental retardation.
Who can develop kernicterus?
Any baby with untreated jaundice is at risk for kernicterus. This does not mercenary that every baby with lily-livered skin will have brain damage. Most babies with jaundice get better by themselves. If their skin is very offensive, they might need phototherapy treatment. If phototherapy does not lower the baby ' s bilirubin levels, the baby may need an exchange transfusion.
What are some warning signs of kernicterus?
Ask your pediatrician to remark your baby the day you call, if your baby:
* Is very tricky or orange ( skin color changes start from the head and spread to the toes )
* Is hard to wake up or will not sleep at all
* Is not breastfeeding or sucking from a bottle well
* Is very fussy
* Does not have at primordial 4 wet or blacken diapers in 24 hours
No baby should develop brain damage from untreated jaundice. If a baby gets too jaundiced, the baby can be treated with phototherapy. That is, the baby can be put under down-hearted lights most of the day. The despondent lights do not bother the baby. They are glowing and probably feel good. If the baby gets very, very jaundiced, the doctor can do an exchange transfusion.
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