Yellow Alert!

Recognising jaundice in newborn babies

How to tell if a baby is jaundiced

Jaundice is when the whites of the eyes and the skin turn yellow. It can be difficult to spot in newborn babies.

Some babies will look very yellow. In other babies the colour change can be hard to see. Jaundice can be even more difficult to see in babies with black or brown skin.

Jaundice may be easier to see in the:

whites of the eyes
soles of the feet
palms of the hands
inside the mouth, including the tongue and gums

Jaundice is very common in newborn babies but in most cases clears on its own by the age of 2 weeks.

If jaundice persists beyond 2 weeks (3 weeks for a pre-term baby), a health professional must be contacted immediately.

All the babies in the pictures below have jaundice

We’re lucky that our midwife recognised the danger signs. Jaundice in newborn babies may be common but I now know that prolonged jaundice isn’t. I want every new mum to be aware of that fact.”

Parent of a child with biliary atresia

Find answers

FAQs

If your baby is showing any the symptoms of a childhood liver disease, you will naturally feel anxious.

Here are the answers to the most common questions parents have.

How we can help

I’ve been told my baby is feeding well, growing and looks well so the jaundice can’t be caused by liver disease. Is this true?

Sadly, no. This is a common mistake that people make. In the early stages of liver disease, a baby can look and seem well and can be feeding normally. They may even be feeding extremely well. The best way to make sure is to look at your baby’s stools and urine and have a split bilirubin test.

I keep saying that my baby is still jaundiced but nobody is listening. What should I do?

It is important that you feel able to talk to your doctor, midwife or health visitor about your concerns. We always encourage parents to follow their instincts and seek help if something doesn’t feel right. Ask for a second opinion if you are not happy.

My baby has prolonged jaundice. They’ve not been tested as I’ve been told the jaundice is due to breastfeeding. Is this right?

No. We know that parents are often reassured that the cause of prolonged jaundice is breast milk jaundice. But this is often done without testing. It is important that a diagnosis of breast milk jaundice is made after a split bilirubin test is carried out and not before.

I’ve been told that my baby needs to see a paediatrician. What happens now?

Your baby may be showing signs of a liver condition. Or the split bilirubin test may suggest there is a problem. Your baby will need to see a paediatrician (children’s doctor). This will usually be at your local hospital. They will do more tests to find out what is happening. If the tests suggest your baby has a liver condition, they may be referred to a specialist liver centre.

My baby has been referred to a specialist centre. Is there any help for me and my family?

Yes. This will be a worrying time, but the Children’s and Families team at Liver UK can provide information, advice and a listening ear.

More information for parents and health professionals

We have a range of information, reviewed by experts in paediatric hepatology, to enable parents and health professionals to recognise the signs of liver disease in newborn babies and take appropriate action quickly.

Order hard copy resources

Resources

What should newborn poo and urine look like?

Parent stories

Resources and downloads

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