Question
My baby was born premature, and I’ve been very worried about her condition from the start. Recently, she’s been experiencing a series of situations, and I’m very concerned, afraid that her condition might worsen. Should I worry if her jaundice persists for a long time?
Answer
Newborn jaundice is typically considered physiological, and as long as it’s not severe, it usually resolves completely within 2 weeks. However, if the jaundice is more severe or doesn’t improve, it may be pathological jaundice and would require hospitalization. If there are no complications and the symptoms described are typical, they should be due to physiological jaundice. Paying attention to the newborn’s warmth, feeding them early, providing sufficient water and calories, and helping to expel meconium early can reduce the severity of physiological jaundice.