How long does it take for neonatal jaundice to subside?

Neonatal physiological jaundice: Newborns begin to develop jaundice 2-3 days after birth, which is most obvious after 4-5 days and disappears naturally after 7-14 days. Generally, they are in good condition and have no adverse reactions. This is called "physiological jaundice". Premature babies have more immature liver function, so jaundice will appear later, around the 3rd or 4th day, and will last longer. Jaundice in premature babies can last for 14 days or longer.

Neonatal breast milk jaundice: Jaundice starts 4-7 days after birth and lasts for about 2 months. It is mainly characterized by increased unconjugated bilirubin and has no clinical symptoms.

Neonatal pathological jaundice: Jaundice appears early, within 24 hours after birth. Jaundice is persistent, and jaundice persists or even deepens 2-3 weeks after birth, or it is relieved and then deepens. Severe jaundice is golden yellow or jaundice is all over the body, with obvious jaundice on the palms and soles, or serum bilirubin is greater than 12-15 mg/L. Accompanied by anemia or pale stool color. There are symptoms such as abnormal body temperature, poor appetite, vomiting, etc.

If it is physiological jaundice, no treatment is needed. If it is pathological jaundice, the main treatment is blue light, so you must go to the hospital's pediatric department for treatment and retest the transcutaneous bilirubin to understand the treatment effect. Regardless of the cause of pathological jaundice, severe cases can cause kernicterus, which has a poor prognosis. In addition to causing damage to the nervous system, severe cases can cause death.

How to deal with jaundice in children

Pay attention to the color of your baby's stool: Pay attention to the color of your baby's stool. If there is a problem with the liver or bile duct, the stool will turn white, but it will not turn white suddenly, but will become lighter and lighter. If the body suddenly turns yellow again, you must take it to the doctor. This is because under normal circumstances, the bilirubin processed by the liver will be excreted from the bile duct to the intestine, so the stool has color. However, when the bile duct is blocked, bilirubin accumulates in the liver and cannot be excreted, which will cause liver damage. Observe your baby's daily life: If you feel that your baby looks more and more yellow, has poor spirits and appetite, or has unstable body temperature, drowsiness, and is prone to screaming and crying, you must go to the hospital for examination.

Carefully observe the changes in jaundice: jaundice starts from the head and fades from the feet, and the eyes are the first to turn yellow and the last to fade, so you can start with the eyes. If you don't know how to look, experts suggest that you can press any part of the body. As long as the skin you press turns white, it doesn't matter. If it turns yellow, you should pay attention.

Breastfeed frequently: If it is proven that jaundice is caused by insufficient feeding, the mother must feed the baby frequently, because milk secretion is a normal physiological reaction. Frequent breastfeeding will stimulate the secretion of lactogen and more milk will be secreted. Never supplement with water or sugar water because you think the baby is not eating enough or because of persistent jaundice.