How common is neonatal jaundice?

Very: Most term normal newborns become jaundiced peaking around the 3rd to 5th day of life. Their livers being a bit immature have trouble breaking down bilirrubin, the substance that make you jaundiced. This type of jaundice resolves in the first 2 weeks. If you are nursing your baby, the yellow pigment may linger a bit. Babies that are premature or have medical problems, may have more serious jaundice.

Jaundice: All babies have some jaundice. It is a process of the blood breaking down and releasing a by-product of bilirubin. In most kids this is benign. The jaundice will rise for the for several days of life and usually levels off by the first week. We watch the levels based on how fast it rises as well as the peak number To determine if intervention is necessary.