If your newborn seems to have a yellow tint to his or her eyes and/or skin, he or she may have jaundice. Jaundice is an extremely common infant condition caused by an excess of bilirubin. Bilirubin is found in all human bodies produced by the breakdown of red blood cells. In infants, there are several reasons for excess bilirubin, or jaundice.

The most common reason is an underdeveloped liver. The liver processes bilirubin, so if the liver is unable to process it quickly enough jaundice occurs. Sometimes even a baby with a fully developed liver becomes jaundiced because infants produce and then break down more red blood cells than adults do. Jaundice by this cause is usually gone by 2 weeks of age.

Jaundice can also be caused by bruising on the scalp from pushing during a vaginal delivery. As the red blood cells that form the bruise break down the liver is overloaded and jaundice results.

Breast feeding babies can become jaundiced from either insufficient milk intake from feeding or milk supply issues. In some cases, a mother will also produce an enzyme that increases the bilirubin supply in the blood, once again causing jaundice.

There are many other causes of jaundice hence it is such a common newborn issue. Luckily, in most cases jaundice is harmless and goes away on its own. While its likely your doctor will note your baby’s jaundice at he or her first check up you should call your doctor immediately if the jaundice occurs within the first 24 hours of life, lasts more than 3 weeks, is accompanied by a fever over 100, or seems sick, lethargic or weak. In the case your baby begins to become more yellow, contact a doctor even if your doctor is aware of the jaundice.

While mild jaundice is common and harmless, severe jaundice can cause permanent brain damage. Due to this most doctors will do a blood test at the appearance of jaundice to confirm the amount of bilirubin in the blood. If levels are high, your baby will be treated accordingly to what ever caused the jaundice. In most cases, phototherapy also called light therapy is used. This special type of light changes the structure of bilirubin so that rather than being slowly processed by the liver it is pass in stole and urine to reduce levels.

In the case of mild jaundice very frequent feedings will reduce the severity, hasten the passing and even reduce the occurrence of jaundice.