HealthInfo Canterbury
Jaundice in babies
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Jaundice is a condition that turns your skin and the whites of your eyes yellow. It's caused when you have high levels of bilirubin, a pigment that comes from your blood cells. Usually, your liver clears the bilirubin from your body.
There are many possible causes of jaundice.
It's very common for babies to have mild jaundice in the first two weeks of their lives. It's usually harmless, but sometimes it can be a sign of a serious problem such as liver disease.
Your doctor or midwife should check your baby's jaundice if:
- it appears within 24 hours of their birth (contact your doctor or midwife straight away)
- it is still there after they are two weeks old
- they have pale poos (faeces)
- their wee (urine) is yellow or dark
- they are unwell
- they are getting more and more yellow.
If it's needed your midwife or doctor will arrange for your baby to have a blood test to check the level of bilirubin.
In most babies jaundice goes away by itself by the time they are two weeks old. Special light therapy (phototherapy ) is used in more severe jaundice.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Beware Yellow – Baby jaundice is not always normal
The Beware Yellow campaign aims to raise the awareness of liver disease in children. Click the link to see the poster for more information about the campaign.
- KidsHealth – Jaundice in Babies
This page has information about why babies get jaundice and when you should seek help.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed October 2021.
SourcesReview key: HIUCB-33560
