How parents can tell if they have a newborn jaundice?

Clinically, there are two types of neonatal jaundice, namely physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. Because the treatment of the two types of jaundice is different, it is necessary for parents to accurately determine the type of jaundice in the newborn.

1. The time when jaundice appeared

Physiological jaundice: It generally appears about 3 days after birth, and a few people see a slight yellowing of the skin from the second day after birth, or delay the appearance of 5 days after birth. It gradually worsens thereafter, usually most pronounced on the 2nd to 3rd day after the onset of jaundice.

Pathologic jaundice: jaundice appears early, usually within 24 hours of birth. If jaundice develops in a newborn within a few hours of life, usually first on the sclera and face, this is a red flag.

2. The degree of jaundice

Physiologic jaundice: mainly determined by measurement of serum bilirubin. The highest value of physiological jaundice should not exceed 12 mg% in neonatal full-term infants.prematureIt should not exceed 15mg%. Jaundice appears in the order of first from the sclera, face, neck and then to the trunk and limbs.

Pathological jaundice: jaundice progresses rapidly, gradually spreading from the face to the trunk and limbs, if the newborn's hands and feet are found to be yellow, it mostly indicates that the blood bilirubin value exceeds 12mg%.

There is a simple way to tell if jaundice is:

Mild: only facial yellowing;

Moderate: yellowish skin on the trunk;

Severe: Yellow staining of the limbs and hearts of the hands and feet.

3. The time when the jaundice subsides

Physiological jaundice: Jaundice subsides in 7-10 days after birth, and no later than 2 weeks after birth.prematureIt can be delayed until 3-4 weeks after birth.

pathological jaundice: often more than 2 weeks,prematureMore than 3 weeks. If the newborn continues to have jaundice 2 weeks after birth, regardless of the amount of serum bilirubin, it is an abnormality, and it is best for parents to take the newborn to the hospital for necessary examinations to find out the cause of jaundice.

4. Other details

Physiological jaundice: In addition to jaundice, the newborn behaves normally in all other aspects, such as feeding, sleeping, crying, urinating, and body temperature.

Pathologic jaundice: the newborn's mental state is obviously not particularly good, and sometimes there are eyes staring in one direction or screaming or convulsions.