8

Jaundice and your baby

Jaundice and your baby

What is jaundice?
Jaundice is a common condition in newborn babies. It can give the skin
or the white part of the eyes a yellow colour. The yellow colour comes
from bilirubin in the blood. Before birth, the mother’s liver removes
the bilirubin from the baby’s blood. After the baby is born, it takes a
few days for the baby’s liver to get better at removing the bilirubin on
its own. During this time, many babies develop jaundice. Jaundice can
occur in a baby of any race or colour.

Feeding your baby often (especially breastfeeding) in the first few

hours and days after birth can help lower the risk of jaundice.
This helps your baby pass more bowel movements (stools) and
gives your baby’s liver the energy it needs to remove the bilirubin.

©
Hamilton Health Sciences, 2004
PD 4209 – 05/2014
dpc/pted/CH/JaundiceBaby-lw.doc
dt/May 7, 2014 ____________________________________________________________________________
2 7
Jaundice and your baby Jaundice and your baby

Are some babies more likely to get jaundice? For more information:
Yes, these circumstances can make jaundice more likely or make • Talk with your doctor or midwife.
jaundice worse: • Visit the website of the Canadian Pediatric Society
• birth more than 2 weeks before the due date www.caringforkids.cps.ca
• weight less than 2500 grams at birth  Click on “Pregnancy & Babies”, then
• bruising from a difficult delivery (such as when forceps are used) click on “Jaundice in newborns”.

• baby’s blood type is different than the mother’s blood type

Notes:
• signs of jaundice within the first 24 hours after birth
• baby has a sibling who was treated for jaundice
• baby is not feeding well
• baby has an infection
• baby is of Asian race

Is jaundice harmful?
Most babies have mild jaundice, which is not harmful. However, it is
possible for a baby to have so much bilirubin in the blood that it
becomes harmful. A very high bilirubin level can damage a baby’s
brain and cause lasting health problems.

As a safety measure, we check all newborn babies

for jaundice.
Safety First

Babies who have signs of jaundice will be closely monitored and

if needed, will be treated to lower their bilirubin level.

__________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________
6 3
Jaundice and your baby Jaundice and your baby

After I leave the hospital, when should I call the doctor How do I know if my baby has jaundice?
or midwife? Signs of jaundice
At home, continue to check your baby for signs of jaundice. Each person who cares for your baby, including you and your family,
should watch for these signs of jaundice:
Call your baby’s doctor or midwife AT ANY TIME if you notice:
• The whites of the baby’s eyes are yellow.
• your baby’s skin appears yellow or is becoming more yellow • The baby’s skin turns yellow. First on the face, then down the
• the whites of your baby’s eyes are yellow baby’s chest, tummy, arms and legs. This is harder to see in
babies with darker skin.
• your baby is not feeding well or is refusing to feed
• The baby is sleepy and may be hard to wake.
• your baby is sleepy and hard to wake
• The baby does not feed well or refuses to feed.
• your baby is becoming more fussy
• The baby is more fussy.
• your baby has fewer wet diapers or bowel movements than
• The baby is losing weight.
expected for his or her age

Blood tests
The Canadian Pediatric Society recommends that all babies should have
a bilirubin test to check for jaundice. The amount of bilirubin in your baby’s
blood will be measured from a small sample of blood taken from his or
her heel.
If you are concerned that your baby may be jaundiced or is
becoming more jaundiced – it is very important to call your A bilirubin test can be done along with your baby’s Newborn Screening
doctor or midwife. blood test, or at any time there is a concern that your baby is jaundiced.

Do not wait for your

The best time for this test is when your baby is between 24 and 72 hours old.
If your baby goes home less than 24 hours after birth, ask your baby’s doctor
baby’s appointment. or midwife about a bilirubin test at your first follow-up visit.

Depending on the amount of bilirubin and your baby’s age in hours,

If you are unable to reach the doctor or midwife, take your the doctor or midwife will decide if your baby needs more tests or treatment.
baby to the nearest hospital emergency room to be checked.
Your nurse will tell you if your baby needs another bilirubin test while you
are in the hospital or after you go home. If your baby needs treatment,
the doctor or midwife will discuss this with you.

__________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________
4 5
Jaundice and your baby Jaundice and your baby

How do I care for my baby if he or she has jaundice? How is jaundice treated?
1. Feed your baby more often. This gives your baby extra fluids and helps One way to lower bilirubin levels is to expose your baby’s skin to light.
to get rid of bilirubin through the urine and stools. If you are breastfeeding, This treatment is called phototherapy.
feed your baby every 2 to 3 hours, during the day and night. Feed your
baby as long as he or she wants. If your baby needs phototherapy, your doctor or midwife will decide which
method of phototherapy is best for your baby. The nurse will give you more
information and show you how to care for your baby during treatment.
If your baby is very sleepy or having problems feeding,
have your baby checked right away.
When does jaundice go away?
2. Check your baby’s diapers each day. Check to see if he or she is In breastfed babies, jaundice often lasts for more than 2 to 3 weeks.
passing enough urine and stools for his or her age.
In formula fed babies, most jaundice lasts for about 2 weeks.
Baby’s Wet diapers Stools
age Jaundice may take longer to go away in babies who are sick or premature
1 day • 1 to 2 wet diapers. • At least 1 stool that is black and and who are being cared for in the Neonatal or Special Care Nursery.
tarry. This is called meconium.
2 days • At least 1 to 2 wet diapers. • At least 1 stool that may have a
What follow-up care does my baby need?
• It is common to see small greenish colour.
pink spots on the diaper Your nurse will tell you:
caused by uric acid in
the urine. • if your baby needs another bilirubin blood test after you leave
3 days • 3 or more wet diapers. • At least 3 stools that are the hospital
• You may still see small dark green, yellow or brown. • when your baby needs to be seen by the doctor or midwife
pink spots.
4 to 6 • 6 or more wet diapers each • 3 or more soft stools each day. Your baby must have a follow-up appointment with
days day, without any pink spots. Your baby may have a stool with
the doctor or midwife to make sure that he or she is not
• Diapers will seem heavier as
every diaper change.
becoming more jaundiced.
your baby passes more urine. • Breastfed babies’ stools are
yellow and “seedy”.
• Formula fed babies’ stools are Before leaving the hospital, call to confirm the date and time of
yellow-brown.
your baby’s appointment with the doctor or midwife.
7 days to • 6 or more heavy, wet diapers • At least 3 soft stools each day.
1 month each day that have pale or Yellow (breastfed) or
of age
Your nurse will confirm the date and time if you also have an
colourless urine. yellow-brown (formula fed).
appointment with:
• the Newborn Assessment Post-Discharge (NAP Clinic)
3. Check your baby each day for signs of jaundice (see page 3).
- for patients at McMaster University Medical Centre
If you think your baby is becoming more jaundiced, call your doctor
or midwife right away. • the Breastfeeding and Newborn Assessment Clinic (BANA)
- for patients at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton

__________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________
4 5
Jaundice and your baby Jaundice and your baby

How do I care for my baby if he or she has jaundice? How is jaundice treated?
1. Feed your baby more often. This gives your baby extra fluids and helps One way to lower bilirubin levels is to expose your baby’s skin to light.
to get rid of bilirubin through the urine and stools. If you are breastfeeding, This treatment is called phototherapy.
feed your baby every 2 to 3 hours, during the day and night. Feed your
baby as long as he or she wants. If your baby needs phototherapy, your doctor or midwife will decide which
method of phototherapy is best for your baby. The nurse will give you more
information and show you how to care for your baby during treatment.
If your baby is very sleepy or having problems feeding,
have your baby checked right away.
When does jaundice go away?
2. Check your baby’s diapers each day. Check to see if he or she is In breastfed babies, jaundice often lasts for more than 2 to 3 weeks.
passing enough urine and stools for his or her age.
In formula fed babies, most jaundice lasts for about 2 weeks.
Baby’s Wet diapers Stools
age Jaundice may take longer to go away in babies who are sick or premature
1 day • 1 to 2 wet diapers. • At least 1 stool that is black and and who are being cared for in the Neonatal or Special Care Nursery.
tarry. This is called meconium.
2 days • At least 1 to 2 wet diapers. • At least 1 stool that may have a
What follow-up care does my baby need?
• It is common to see small greenish colour.
pink spots on the diaper Your nurse will tell you:
caused by uric acid in
the urine. • if your baby needs another bilirubin blood test after you leave
3 days • 3 or more wet diapers. • At least 3 stools that are the hospital
• You may still see small dark green, yellow or brown. • when your baby needs to be seen by the doctor or midwife
pink spots.
4 to 6 • 6 or more wet diapers each • 3 or more soft stools each day. Your baby must have a follow-up appointment with
days day, without any pink spots. Your baby may have a stool with
the doctor or midwife to make sure that he or she is not
• Diapers will seem heavier as
every diaper change.
becoming more jaundiced.
your baby passes more urine. • Breastfed babies’ stools are
yellow and “seedy”.
• Formula fed babies’ stools are Before leaving the hospital, call to confirm the date and time of
yellow-brown.
your baby’s appointment with the doctor or midwife.
7 days to • 6 or more heavy, wet diapers • At least 3 soft stools each day.
1 month each day that have pale or Yellow (breastfed) or
of age
Your nurse will confirm the date and time if you also have an
colourless urine. yellow-brown (formula fed).
appointment with:
• the Newborn Assessment Post-Discharge (NAP Clinic)
3. Check your baby each day for signs of jaundice (see page 3).
- for patients at McMaster University Medical Centre
If you think your baby is becoming more jaundiced, call your doctor
or midwife right away. • the Breastfeeding and Newborn Assessment Clinic (BANA)
- for patients at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton

__________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________
6 3
Jaundice and your baby Jaundice and your baby

After I leave the hospital, when should I call the doctor How do I know if my baby has jaundice?
or midwife? Signs of jaundice
At home, continue to check your baby for signs of jaundice. Each person who cares for your baby, including you and your family,
should watch for these signs of jaundice:
Call your baby’s doctor or midwife AT ANY TIME if you notice:
• The whites of the baby’s eyes are yellow.
• your baby’s skin appears yellow or is becoming more yellow • The baby’s skin turns yellow. First on the face, then down the
• the whites of your baby’s eyes are yellow baby’s chest, tummy, arms and legs. This is harder to see in
babies with darker skin.
• your baby is not feeding well or is refusing to feed
• The baby is sleepy and may be hard to wake.
• your baby is sleepy and hard to wake
• The baby does not feed well or refuses to feed.
• your baby is becoming more fussy
• The baby is more fussy.
• your baby has fewer wet diapers or bowel movements than
• The baby is losing weight.
expected for his or her age

Blood tests
The Canadian Pediatric Society recommends that all babies should have
a bilirubin test to check for jaundice. The amount of bilirubin in your baby’s
blood will be measured from a small sample of blood taken from his or
her heel.
If you are concerned that your baby may be jaundiced or is
becoming more jaundiced – it is very important to call your A bilirubin test can be done along with your baby’s Newborn Screening
doctor or midwife. blood test, or at any time there is a concern that your baby is jaundiced.

Do not wait for your

The best time for this test is when your baby is between 24 and 72 hours old.
If your baby goes home less than 24 hours after birth, ask your baby’s doctor
baby’s appointment. or midwife about a bilirubin test at your first follow-up visit.

Depending on the amount of bilirubin and your baby’s age in hours,

If you are unable to reach the doctor or midwife, take your the doctor or midwife will decide if your baby needs more tests or treatment.
baby to the nearest hospital emergency room to be checked.
Your nurse will tell you if your baby needs another bilirubin test while you
are in the hospital or after you go home. If your baby needs treatment,
the doctor or midwife will discuss this with you.

__________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________
2 7
Jaundice and your baby Jaundice and your baby

Are some babies more likely to get jaundice? For more information:
Yes, these circumstances can make jaundice more likely or make • Talk with your doctor or midwife.
jaundice worse: • Visit the website of the Canadian Pediatric Society
• birth more than 2 weeks before the due date www.caringforkids.cps.ca
• weight less than 2500 grams at birth  Click on “Pregnancy & Babies”, then
• bruising from a difficult delivery (such as when forceps are used) click on “Jaundice in newborns”.

• baby’s blood type is different than the mother’s blood type

Notes:
• signs of jaundice within the first 24 hours after birth
• baby has a sibling who was treated for jaundice
• baby is not feeding well
• baby has an infection
• baby is of Asian race

Is jaundice harmful?
Most babies have mild jaundice, which is not harmful. However, it is
possible for a baby to have so much bilirubin in the blood that it
becomes harmful. A very high bilirubin level can damage a baby’s
brain and cause lasting health problems.

As a safety measure, we check all newborn babies

for jaundice.
Safety First

Babies who have signs of jaundice will be closely monitored and

if needed, will be treated to lower their bilirubin level.

__________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________
8
Jaundice and your baby

Jaundice and your baby

What is jaundice?
Jaundice is a common condition in newborn babies. It can give the skin
or the white part of the eyes a yellow colour. The yellow colour comes
from bilirubin in the blood. Before birth, the mother’s liver removes
the bilirubin from the baby’s blood. After the baby is born, it takes a
few days for the baby’s liver to get better at removing the bilirubin on
its own. During this time, many babies develop jaundice. Jaundice can
occur in a baby of any race or colour.

Feeding your baby often (especially breastfeeding) in the first few

hours and days after birth can help lower the risk of jaundice.
This helps your baby pass more bowel movements (stools) and
gives your baby’s liver the energy it needs to remove the bilirubin.

©
Hamilton Health Sciences, 2004
PD 4209 – 05/2014
dpc/pted/CH/JaundiceBaby-lw.doc
dt/May 7, 2014 ____________________________________________________________________________