Question
Why does a newborn become yellowish and increasingly so after birth?
Answer
The cause of neonatal jaundice is typically related to the baby’s underdeveloped liver. Jaundice usually appears within 2-3 days after birth and reaches its peak between 4-6 days, then gradually diminishes. For full-term infants, jaundice typically subsides within 2 weeks after birth; for premature infants, it may take up to 3 weeks. The severity of jaundice is generally mild, with the baby’s skin color turning pale yellow, and jaundice usually only affects the face and upper body. During the period of jaundice, the baby remains in good overall condition, with normal body temperature, appetite, and normal color of urine and stool, as well as normal growth and development.