First-time mothers may be surprised, but a phenomenon where a newborn baby's skin appears yellowish is called jaundice, a natural occurrence seen in half of all full-term babies. Even so, some of you might have felt anxious, wondering, "What if it's a disease?"
While most cases of jaundice are nothing to worry about, in rare instances, it could potentially be a pathological jaundice that requires treatment. Therefore, let us look into jaundice in detail this time.

The phenomenon of skin appearing yellowWhat is Jaundice?

Jaundice refers to a condition in which the skin and the white of the eye become yellow. The appearance can be imagined as a slightly reddish skin tone with a yellow tint, similar to the color of a yellow peach. This occurs because a yellow pigment called bilirubin accumulates in the body.
Bilirubin is contained in red blood cells. As is well known, red blood cells are one of the main components of blood and play the important role of carrying oxygen throughout the body.
While inside the mother's womb, the baby also uses a large number of red blood cells to transport oxygen. After birth, a portion of those red blood cells breaks down, generating bilirubin. This bilirubin is carried to the liver, where it undergoes chemical processing, and is then transported to the intestines via the biliary tract, which connects the liver and the intestines. Inside the intestines, the bilirubin changes form further; a portion of it is reabsorbed back into the body, while the vast majority is excreted out of the body as stool. The reason a baby's stool is yellow is because it contains a large amount of this bilirubin.
You may then wonder why jaundice appears on the skin. Newborn babies have more red blood cells in their blood than adults, and the lifespan of these red blood cells is shorter. Therefore, many red blood cells break down in a short period of time, making bilirubin levels rise more easily. Since babies cannot pass stool while in the womb, the excess bilirubin must be sent to the mother’s bloodstream to be eliminated.
For this reason, most bilirubin that enters the intestines is reabsorbed back into the blood during fetal life. Since this mechanism remains for a while after birth, bilirubin levels in the blood can increase easily in newborns.

Some Cases Require AttentionPhysiological Jaundice and Pathological Jaundice

《 Physiological Jaundice 》
Most jaundice seen in newborns is called physiological jaundice which is not an abnormality and will disappear naturally. It usually begins around the second or third day after birth, peaks around the fourth or fifth day, and disappears naturally within one to two weeks.
If the baby is active and drinking breast milk or formula well, treatment is not necessary. However, attention is required in the following situations.

《 Pathological Jaundice 》 ● Biliary Atresia
If the jaundice persists and the stool looks whitish (cream-colored or gray), there is a possibility of a disease called biliary atresia which requires treatment.

Pay Attention to the Following Symptoms

• ○ Jaundice appears within 24 hours of birth
• ○ The yellowing spreads quickly and the color is deep
• ○ Jaundice does not disappear even after 2 weeks or more since birth
• ○ The baby appears lethargic or refuses milk
• ○ Whitish-colored stool

Jaundice appearing within the first 24 hours after birth or sudden changes are usually handled appropriately at the birth facility. If jaundice continues for more than two weeks after birth, it is called prolonged jaundice. In most cases, there is no cause for concern, but you should be careful with the following item.

● Breast Milk Jaundice
When a baby is breastfed, jaundice may continue slightly longer. This is called breast milk jaundice, and it is not a problem if the baby is healthy and gaining weight steadily.
Although slightly elevated bilirubin levels in the blood are not harmful, excessively high levels can cause harm, particularly to the brain. High concentrations of bilirubin can damage brain tissue, and if left untreated, it can lead to after-effects such as physical paralysis. For this reason, treatment is necessary when bilirubin levels become too high.


《 Treatment Method 》 ● Phototherapy
The most common method for reducing high bilirubin levels in the blood is phototherapy. By exposing the baby to light of a special wavelength, bilirubin in the blood can be broken down. This improves most cases of jaundice.

Prevention MethodsMothers Can Practice

One way mothers can help prevent newborn jaundice is by feeding the baby frequently. Either breast milk or formula is fine. Frequent feeding helps fluids to be absorbed into the baby’s body, which dilutes the blood and can lower bilirubin levels.
Another benefit of feeding is that it stimulates bowel movements and helps the baby pass stool, which also contributes to reducing bilirubin in the body.
If jaundice appears somewhat strong immediately after birth, phototherapy may sometimes be performed in an incubator as a preventive measure. Some mothers may worry that this means their baby has developed a serious illness. However, in many cases it is simply preventive treatment, so it is important to receive a proper explanation from the doctor and try not to worry unnecessarily.

Although jaundice can range from harmless cases to those requiring treatment, if it continues after discharge and you remain concerned, please consult a pediatrician.