Question
My baby is now 10 days old. The jaundice was not high when we were in the hospital, but a few days after discharge, I noticed that his face turned yellow except for his eyes. I went to the hospital and the doctor prescribed some medicine for us to take at home. I’m worried about any abnormalities in the baby. How should high jaundice in newborns be treated?
Answer
Generally speaking, newborns start to show jaundice within 2 to 3 days after birth. If the jaundice appears later, it may be considered breast milk jaundice. Usually, breast milk jaundice increases slowly each day and often appears yellowish with a reddish hue. The baby usually appears to be in good condition, able to eat, play, and sleep. If the highest reading does not exceed 12.9 milligrams per deciliter, it is recommended to observe. Most cases of breast milk jaundice have a good prognosis.