Robert Zakar gives back to community
Newborn Jaundice
It's a common and usually harmless condition in which your new baby's skin and eyes look yellow.
It happens when too much bilirubin, a chemical that red blood cells release during their normal breakdown process, builds up in the blood.
About 60% of full-term babies get jaundice in their first week. It's even more common – about 80% – in premature babies and can be more serious for them.
Sometimes jaundice goes away on its own. Or your doctor may suggest light therapy or other treatment options.
The most obvious sign of jaundice is a yellow color to the skin. But that can be hard to spot in babies with darker complexions. Instead, you might look for yellow in the whites of their eyes. (Photo Credit: Arindam Ghosh/Dreamstime)
Some of your baby's red blood cells break down every day and create bilirubin, a waste pigment. It's the liver's job to filter it out of the bloodstream. When your baby is still in your womb, your liver clears out their bilirubin for them. After birth, your baby's liver takes over.
Sometimes, your newborn's liver can't break down bilirubin quickly enough, and it starts to build up. Because bilirubin is a yellow compound, it turns your baby's skin and eyes yellow.
Babies have a greater chance of getting jaundice if they're:
The most common kind of newborn jaundice, called physiologic jaundice, happens because babies naturally have a high turnover of red blood cells in their first few days, and their growing livers can't keep up. It typically shows up 2-3 days after your baby is born and goes away on its own within the first couple of weeks.
It's common for breastfed babies to have jaundice for a couple of reasons:
Breastfeeding jaundice happens because your baby isn't eating enough. Your milk may not have come in yet or your baby is having trouble latching on. The more your baby eats, the more quickly their body clears waste, including bilirubin, from their system.
Breast milk jaundice appears after the first week. Doctors don't know exactly why it happens, but they think something in breast milk keeps your baby's liver from processing bilirubin well. This kind of jaundice can last for several months.
More serious kinds of jaundice are caused by a disease or condition, such as:
Jaundice may also happen if a mom has a different blood type from their baby. If that's your situation, your body may make antibodies that attack and break down your baby's red blood cells. In some cases, you can help prevent this by getting special shots when you're pregnant.
The most obvious sign of jaundice is a yellow color to your baby's skin, which sometimes can be hard to tell on brown or darker skin. It may be easier to spot yellow in the whites of their eyes or under their tongue. Jaundice usually starts on the face. Once bilirubin levels in the blood rise, the yellow color moves to the chest and stomach, and then, finally, the legs and arms.
Severe jaundice can be a medical emergency, so call your doctor right away if your baby:
Usually, a doctor can tell that your baby has jaundice by looking. But they'll also want to know how much bilirubin is in your baby's blood to help decide on a treatment plan. They may:
If your doctor suspects that a condition is causing your baby's jaundice, they may do other tests, like:
In many cases, jaundice goes away on its own in 1 to 2 weeks. Your doctor will decide whether your baby should wait it out or start treatments, such as:
Extra feedings. Taking in more breast milk or formula will help your baby poop more often, which can help clear out bilirubin from the body. Or, if your baby is having trouble breastfeeding, your doctor may recommend you feed them breast milk from a bottle or also feed them formula.
Phototherapy. The doctor puts your baby under blue-green lights. It can help bilirubin leave their body in their urine. They'll wear only a diaper so that most of their skin can soak up the light. They'll wear patches to protect their eyes. The light may come from a special pad or mattress that puts out blue-green light.
Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). If your baby's jaundice happens because they have a different blood type from their mom, your doctor may need to give them a blood protein through an IV that helps stop the breakdown of red blood cells.
Exchange transfusion. If your baby has severe jaundice that isn't getting better with other methods, they may need a blood transfusion called an exchange transfusion. In this process, your doctor repeatedly draws small amounts of your baby's blood and replaces it with blood from a donor. Your baby will need to stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for the procedure. It's rare for babies to need this level of treatment for jaundice.
Don't wait to get your baby checked if you notice signs of jaundice. It's rare, but if severe jaundice isn't treated, bilirubin can enter the brain and cause permanent damage. This condition is called kernicterus, which can lead to:
There isn't much you can do to prevent the typical jaundice in newborns. But you can help move it along by being sure your baby is well fed. If you're breastfeeding, aim for 8-12 feedings a day in the first days of your baby's life. If you're formula feeding, offer 1-2 ounces every 2-3 hours. Exposing your baby to sunlight also helps break down indirect bilirubin. Sit by the window indoors with your baby, or take your baby for a stroll in the stroller if it's a nice day with sunshine.
Baby Forced To Undergo Liver Transplant After Rare Disease Spotted Due To Yellow Eyes
A baby boy from Gloucestershire was diagnosed with a rare liver disease at just seven months old and required a liver transplant at just 13 months old, his parents said
Baby Max was diagnosed with a rare liver disease (Image: Childrens Liver Disease Foundation/Family handout)
A baby boy required a liver transplant after his jaundiced eyes revealed a rare disease, his parents have said.
Max, who was born in 2022, initially appeared healthy and was gaining weight as expected. However, his parents Mike and Laura Price became concerned when his eyes developed a yellowish tint, a condition known as jaundice.
Dad-of-two Mike, from Gloucestershire, said: "To begin with, all seemed perfectly well with Max. He appeared healthy and was gaining weight as he should. We did think his eyes were ever so slightly jaundiced but as he appeared otherwise well and we knew that jaundice was common in babies, we weren't unduly worried."
Baby Max with his dad Mike (Image:
Childrens Liver Disease Foundation/Family handout)However, during his seven-week check-up, their health visitor expressed concern about Max's persistent jaundice and recommended a blood test, reports Gloucestershire Live. Following the test, the family was immediately called back to their local hospital where doctors informed the parents that Max's blood showed high levels of bilirubin, indicating he might have biliary atresia, a rare liver disease.
The dad said: "We were then transferred to Birmingham Children's Hospital where the diagnosis was confirmed and Max underwent an operation known as a Kasai procedure to try and restore bile flow from his liver and reduce the levels of bilirubin in his blood."
Max underwent Kasai treatment, which did not work - and the baby became unwell and more jaundiced. Doctors said in March this year that the seven-month-old baby's only option was a liver transplant. Mike explained how his wife Laura wanted to put herself forward for a liver transplant before Max found a donor. He said: "We could see him going downhill fast and knew that time was of the essence.
"My wife, Laura, put herself forward to see if she was a match to be a donor but luckily within six days of being listed, we received a call to say that a suitable liver had been found and Max received his life-saving gift. He has continued to thrive since that day and has built up unbelievable strength."
During these "very traumatic months", Mike learned about the Children's Liver Disease Foundation which helped him and his wife understand Max's diagnosis. Mike found the charity's positive stories and information about Max's condition comforting at a difficult time.
With his son Max now being 13 months old, Mike is determined to give back to the charity that supported them by participating in the Stroud Half Marathon on Sunday, October 29. His aim is not only to raise funds but also to increase awareness for the Children's Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF). As of now, his online fundraiser has raised over £400 ahead of the race at the end of the month.
Mike expressed: "So I'm doing the Stroud Half Marathon to help raise awareness of CLDF and enable them to continue their support for other families who may now be facing a diagnosis of liver disease in their child. Through what has possibly been the hardest and scariest times we have faced, we have made great friends with others in the same situation and have all stuck together helping each other and sharing our journeys as one big family.
"We will forever be grateful for the chance Max's donor has given to him and the brave decisions the family made. Taking on a half marathon is a small challenge in comparison but is my way of giving something back."
Michelle Wilkins, the head of services for the Children's Liver Disease Foundation, stated: "CLDF is the only UK charity dedicated to fighting all childhood liver diseases, by providing information and emotional support, funds for research and a voice for all those affected. In order to do this, however, we rely on voluntary donations, so we are so grateful that Mike is taking on the Stroud Half for us. It's great to know that Max is doing so well and we'll continue to be there for him as he grows up."
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.You can report any errors to webhomepage@mirror.Co.Uk
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