Almost every new mother will face the problem of baby "jaundice" - yellowing skin, and in severe cases, even the whites of the eyes will turn yellow. This situation usually appears about three days after the baby is born, with the peak between the fourth and sixth day, and gradually improves naturally after about a week.
Why has the BB turned yellow?
Babies develop jaundice mainly because of high levels of bilirubin in their bodies. Bilirubin is a substance produced from the breakdown of red blood cells, which is normally processed by the liver and excreted from the body. Because the liver systems of newborn infants are not yet fully developed, bilirubin accumulates in the body, forming "physiological jaundice."
Factors affecting time to decolourisation
If a baby is breastfed, they may experience dehydration and infrequent bowel movements due to insufficient milk intake. This can prevent bilirubin from being excreted through waste, leading to jaundice appearing earlier and taking longer to clear. Furthermore, breast milk contains higher levels of ß-glucuronidase, which has stronger activity. This causes bilirubin to be reabsorbed in the baby's intestines, resulting in jaundice that may persist for one to two months before resolving.
Solution
Mothers can improve jaundice by increasing the baby's feeding volume. If breast milk is insufficient, formula can be used as a supplementary feed. Generally speaking, babies with breast milk jaundice are in good health, so there is no need to replace highly nutritious breast milk with other foods, to avoid the normal physiological phenomenon of infant jaundice.
>>>If parents are unsure whether their baby is in a normal condition, it is recommended that they seek professional medical help and undergo a physical examination to identify the cause.
