Question
What is the color of a newborn’s stool usually like when they have jaundice?
Answer
Jaundice itself does not directly affect the color of a newborn’s stool, and the color may change after taking jaundice-reducing medication. It is generally recommended to have the baby drink more water to promote urination, help expel toxins from the body, and ensure adequate rest and good indoor air circulation. If a newborn’s jaundice is caused by elevated indirect bilirubin, the indirect bilirubin will convert to direct bilirubin and be excreted into the intestinal cavity through the bile ducts, at which point the stool will appear yellow. By observing the color of a newborn’s stool, one can initially determine if there is an elevation in direct bilirubin due to bile duct obstruction.