How many days does jaundice usually occur in newborns?
Jaundice is a fairly common condition of newborns. It appears on the second or third day of life in about 50% of babies who were born on time. In premature babies, this condition is more common - in about 70-80% of cases.
Why does physiological jaundice occur?
This condition is associated with an increase in the level of pigment, which is called bilirubin. It appears in the blood of the infant due to the breakdown of fetal hemoglobin, which after childbirth becomes unnecessary for the baby.
Bilirubin circulating in karapuz blood is toxic, which is the main danger. With a very high concentration, it is able to penetrate the central nervous system and cause serious disruption to its work.
Neutralization of such bilirubin, which is called indirect, "engages" the liver. In it, the pigment binds to other compounds, which makes it soluble in water. After such binding, bilirubin enters the intestine, as well as in the urine, and is removed from the body of the crumbs. It should be noted that in a newborn baby, the liver still does not perform well with its functions, and in the intestine some bilirubin is reabsorbed, which also causes a prolonged increase in the level of this pigment in the blood.
Most babies tolerate such jaundice well and the presence of elevated bilirubin in the blood of parents and doctors is judged only by the icteric color of the skin. Having done a blood test, you can make sure that the level of bilirubin is not so high as to damage the brain. In such cases, no treatment is needed, and jaundice eventually goes away on its own.
When does physiological jaundice pass?
After increasing for several days, the yellowness begins to decrease. In full-term babies, the skin returns to normal color by 10-14 days of life. In premature crumbs, due to the greater immaturity of the liver, the bilirubin level decreases more slowly, so physiological jaundice may take longer. Usually in such babies the yellowness disappears by the age of three weeks, but it may last longer.
What to do if the jaundice does not pass on time
If the baby has already turned 3 weeks or 1 month, and the yellowness of the skin remains, you should show the baby to the pediatrician. The doctor will examine and refer the baby for a blood test, after which he will decide whether the child needs any treatment. You also need to seek medical help if:
- The yellowness went away, but then the child turned yellow again.
- The skin has a greenish tint.
- The color of feces and urine has changed.
- Child's well-being has deteriorated
With what methods reduce bilirubin
Faster to get rid of the jaundice of newborns helps:
- Frequent attachment to the chest. It is especially important that the baby receives colostrum, since it will contribute to a more rapid elimination of bilirubin-rich meconium. Feeding should be frequent and not stopped at night.
- Phototherapy It is prescribed for high bilirubin levels. The babies are kept under special UV lamps.Under the influence of their light, bilirubin becomes water soluble and is more rapidly excreted.
- Walking in the fresh air and air baths.
