Print Most newborns with jaundice can continue breastfeeding. Decisions about supplementation of a jaundiced newborn should be made on a case-by-case basis. Jaundice, a sign of elevated bilirubin levels, is common during the first weeks of life, especially among preterm newborns.

The yellow color of newborn jaundice is caused by high levels of a substance called bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin mostly comes from the breakdown of red blood cells. It gets processed in the liver to make it easier for the body to get rid of through the urine and stool.

Normal levels for newborns can range anywhere between 1.0 and 12.0 mg/dL. Most of the time, hyperbilirubinemia in newborns is predictable and self-limited. But healthcare providers continue to monitor these cases to make sure bilirubin levels don’t rise too far or too fast.

Normal bilirubin levels are usually under 5mg/dL, but most newborns have it above 5mg/dL and.

Infant jaundice is yellow discoloration of a newborn baby's skin and eyes. Infant jaundice occurs because the baby's blood contains an excess of bilirubin (bil-ih-ROO-bin), a yellow pigment of red blood cells. Infant jaundice is a common condition, particularly in babies born before 38 weeks' gestation (preterm babies) and some breast-fed babies.

Kevin C. Dysart , MD, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children Last review/revision Mar 2021 | Modified Sep 2022 View Patient Education Pathophysiology Etiology Evaluation Treatment Key Points More Information Jaundice is a yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes caused by hyperbilirubinemia (elevated serum bilirubin concentration).

Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) — also called erythroblastosis fetalis — is a blood disorder that occurs when the blood types of a mother and baby are incompatible. HDN is relatively uncommon in the United States due to advances in early detection and treatment, limiting it to approximately 4,000 cases a year.

Neonatal jaundice: aetiology, diagnosis and treatment. Routine administration of intravenous calcium during exchange blood transfusion for treatment of severe neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia: a systematic review of quantitative evidence protocol. Evaluation and treatment of jaundice in the term newborn: a kinder, gentler approach. Bethesda, MD 20894.