Question
The newborn’s face started to show a bit of yellowish color on the third day after birth. Today is the eighth day of his life, and his complexion looks even more yellow. His stool and urine are normal every day, and he drinks more than 400 milliliters of milk each day, which is a mixture of breast milk and formula. Do I need to take him to the doctor now, or should I observe for a few more days?
Answer
Based on your description, you should take your baby to the hospital for a bilirubin check. Pathological jaundice may reappear within 24 hours after birth, or persist after reappearing, or reappear after subsiding. Physiological jaundice in mild cases may disappear within 2 to 3 days, with the skin returning to normal by the 5th to 6th day; in severe cases, it may last for more than a week, especially for some premature infants, which may continue up to 4 weeks, with their stool still yellow and no bilirubin in their urine.