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- Knowledgebase: Newborn Questions: General
- Questions about the care of newborns, rashes, stooling.
- 28. My baby is yellow! What is Jaundice? - Top
- About 25% of babies have some degree of jaundice (yellow skin color)during the first week or two of life.
The most common cause of jaundice in the first week of life is due to breaking down extra red blood cells that are not needed. This process peaks at about day 5. If your baby is particularly yellow- call us. Sometimes we use special lights (phototherapy) to help the skin break down the jaundice faster.
Another common cause of jaundice in the first two weeks is "Breast Milk Jaundice". There is a substance in breast milk that causes some babies to become jaundiced. The best solution for this problem is to keep feeding the baby as much as you can- the more he eats, the more he will stool, and the more he stools, the faster he can get rid of the jaundice.
The eyes will often stay yellow longer than the skin. This is normal.
Jaundice can be caused by many other problems. If your baby is "really yellow" or if you are not sure how to tell, or if your baby is yellow at all past 2 weeks please make an appointment for us to check him in the office.
- Updated: March 5, 2001
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- Knowledgebase: Newborn Questions: General
James L Horwitz, MD
David C. Thomas, MD
Barbara Lindberg, PNP