What are the reasons why newborns are prone to jaundice? Pay attention to the three signs of newborn jaundice

Neonatal jaundice is a condition that many parents have encountered after their baby is born. The occurrence of neonatal jaundice is closely related to many factors. It may be caused by excessive bilirubin production or insufficient bilirubin circulation in the baby's body. Parents should also pay attention to some signs of neonatal jaundice.

Most babies have experienced jaundice after birth. So what is the cause of neonatal jaundice? It may be caused by excessive bilirubin production or insufficient bilirubin transport. In daily life, parents should pay attention to observe whether their babies have some signs of jaundice.

There are two main reasons for neonatal jaundice.

First, excessive bilirubin production. After birth, the baby's daily bilirubin production is relatively high, much higher than that of adults. This is because the fetus is in an environment with low oxygen partial pressure. In this case, the number of red blood cells produced will be relatively large, and more red blood cells will be destroyed. The baby's hemoglobin half-life is relatively short, which will cause more bilirubin to be produced. This is one of the causes of jaundice.

Second, the ability to transport bilirubin is insufficient. Newborn babies may have varying degrees of acidosis, which will affect the combination of bilirubin and protein in the blood. In particular, the amount of albumin in premature babies is lower than that in full-term babies, and the ability to transport bilirubin will be worse, making them more likely to suffer from jaundice.

Now that we know the causes of baby jaundice, what are the signs that your baby has jaundice?

First, for children suffering from physiological jaundice, jaundice will appear 2-3 days after birth. Mild jaundice on the face, trunk and limbs usually subsides within a week.

Second, some children have jaundice at birth, and the color will gradually become darker. The oral mucosa will also become pale and the breathing will become faster. This may be neonatal hemolytic disease caused by incompatibility of mother and child blood, and immediate measures must be taken to rescue them.

Third, some babies have jaundice at the beginning, and the condition tends to gradually worsen. Then the stool may change in color, gradually turning white and clay-like. This may be obstructive jaundice and requires further examination.

Jaundice is not uncommon in children, but each child's situation is different, so the specific manifestations are not very different. Parents also need to closely observe the baby's physical condition. For physiological jaundice, there is usually no need to worry too much, but for pathological jaundice, you need to be vigilant and take the baby to the hospital as soon as possible when necessary.