This is a normal response to a newborn's immature blood circulation.īlue coloring of other parts of the body is not normal. A baby's hands and feet may stay bluish in color for several days. This redness normally begins to fade in the first day. As the baby begins to breathe air, the color changes to red. Call your baby's doctor if your baby has any of these signs.īlue color that does not go away. When a baby is first born, the skin is a dark red to purple color. Babies with severe jaundice may need hospitalization and blood transfusions.īabies with jaundice may have feeding problems and be irritable or listless. Treatment often includes using special lights called phototherapy. Treatment for jaundice depends on many factors, including the cause and the severity of the jaundice. Jaundice related to inadequate liver function. Jaundice may be related to inadequate liver function due to infection or other factors. Jaundice from hemolysis. Jaundice may occur with the breakdown of red blood cells due to hemolytic disease of the newborn (Rh disease), having too many red blood cells, or bleeding internally. They do not have the coordination and the strength to maintain a successful breastfeeding. Late preterm infants, those who are born between 34 weeks and 36 weeks, are more susceptible to this problem. This process is called enterohepatic circulation.īreastfeeding failure jaundice. It is caused by failure to initiate breastfeeding, resulting in dehydration, decreased urine and stool production and accumulation of bilirubin. Breast milk jaundice is thought to be caused by a factor in the mother's breast milk that increases the reabsorption of bilirubin through the intestinal tract. It peaks about 2 weeks of age and can persist up to three to 12 weeks. Physiologic jaundice. Physiologic jaundice occurs as a "normal" response to the baby's limited ability to excrete bilirubin in the first days of life.īreast milk jaundice. About 2% of breastfed babies develop jaundice after the first 3 to 5 days. The yellow tint to the skin can often be seen by gently pressing on the baby's forehead or chest and watching the color return. A premature infant is more likely to develop jaundice. As liver function matures, the jaundice goes away. Because bilirubin has a pigment, or coloring, it causes a yellowing of the baby's eyes, skin, and tissues. The buildup of bilirubin in the blood is called hyperbilirubinemia. In a newborn baby, this removal process is not fully developed. As the old cells are broken down, hemoglobin is changed into bilirubin and normally removed by the liver. Jaundice is caused by the breakdown of red blood cells. This is usually a temporary condition, but may be a more serious sign of another illness. Increasing yellow color. Over half of all newborns develop some amount of jaundice, a yellow coloring in their skin and eyes, during the first week. It is important for you to detect and notify your baby's doctor if the following skin color changes should occur: The color of a baby's skin can often help identify possible problems in another area of the body.
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