Question
A newborn at home showed signs of facial jaundice on the fourth day after a normal delivery. The hospital diagnosed it as newborn jaundice and the baby needs blue light therapy. The parents did not pay special attention to their diet during pregnancy and want to know if newborn jaundice is related to maternal diet during pregnancy?
Answer
Newborn jaundice usually appears 2 to 3 days after birth, reaches its peak between 4 to 6 days, and subsides around 14 days. Generally speaking, newborn jaundice does not have a direct connection with the mother’s diet during pregnancy. For severe cases of newborn jaundice, blue light therapy is an effective treatment method. It is recommended that parents follow the doctor’s instructions for treatment to ensure the health of the newborn.