Jaundice

Many babies develop jaundice soon after birth. It usually lasts for up to two weeks and is no reason to worry. If your baby has jaundice, the skin on their face and upper part of their body will look a bit yellow. Mums of babies with darker skin tones might notice yellowing better in other parts of their baby's body – such as the whites of their eyes, inside their mouth, and on the soles of their feet and palms of their hands. Some babies will need light treatment for jaundice, particularly premature babies, but for most it clears itself.

You should be a bit more concerned and speak to your midwife and health visitor urgently if:

• your baby is sleepy and not feeding very often
• jaundice appears within the first 24 hours of life
• your baby seems unwell
• the jaundice isn't clearing within 2 weeks
• your baby has dark urine and pale poo

If your baby’s jaundice isn’t clearing within 2 weeks, a doctor will review your baby, but in most cases they'll be fine. Some babies have a longer period of jaundice called breast milk jaundice – however, the benefits of breastfeeding far outweigh any risks associated with it.

Jaundice is common in newborn babies because they have a high level of red blood cells. When red blood cells are broken down, a yellow substance called bilirubin is produced which travels in their bloodstream to the liver. The liver's job is to process the bilirubin so it can be passed out of the body in poo. However, as babies have lots of red blood cells and underdeveloped livers, they often have a tough time processing this bilirubin, which can then build up and cause jaundice.

Most of the time, the only thing to do is wait for the jaundice to clear. By about the second week, your baby will be making less bilirubin and their liver will be better at removing it from their body. Jaundice often corrects itself without causing any harm. If you're breastfeeding, your baby's jaundice may last longer than it would for formula fed babies but this is often normal. In rare cases, jaundice may be the result of another health problem. Your health visitor will be closely monitoring your baby's jaundice, especially if it's lasting longer than normal, and may suggest some tests.

If you have any concerns, then don't hesitate to talk to your health visitor or doctor.