Newborn jaundice is when a baby has high levels of bilirubin in
the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow substance that the body creates
when it replaces old red blood cells. The liver helps break down
the substance so it can be removed from the body in the stool.
High levels of bilirubin makes your baby's skin and whites of
the eyes look yellow. This is called jaundice. Jaundice of the
newborn; Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia; Bili lights - jaundice
Causes, incidence, and risk factors It is normal for a baby's
bilirubin level to be a bit higher after birth. When the baby is
growing in the mother's womb, the placenta removes bilirubin
from the baby's body. The placenta is the organ that grows
during pregnancy to feed the baby. After birth, the baby's liver
starts doing this job. This can take a while. Most newborns have
some yellowing of the skin, or jaundice. This is called
"physiological jaundice." It is harmless, and usually is worst
when the baby is 2 - 4 days old. It goes away within 2 weeks and
doesn't usually caus