How to reduce the risk of jaundice in newborns; what to do if they've got it already

Jaundice is one of the most common health problems that affects newborn babies. It is characterized by the yellowing of the skin and eyes of the infant, which occurs when there is too much bilirubin in the baby's blood. According to the UK National Health Services (NHS), 6 out of every 10 babies are estimated to develop jaundice, including 8 out of 10 babies born prematurely before the 37th week of pregnancy. However, the health body says that only 1 in 20 babies need treatment.

​Also read: "What secrets are you hiding from your parents?": Kids answer​

According to Neymours KidsHealth, newborns usually have physiological jaundice because they are born with more blood cells than an adult. The blood cells do not survive for long and break down causing more bilirubin in the body. The baby can develop this kind of jaundice 2-4 days after being born. However, he/she recovers when they're 2 weeks old.

But in most cases, babies are likely to develop jaundice if they were either born prematurely or are not breastfed regularly. It could also occur if the baby's blood type does not match the mother's.

In addition, if the baby has a genetic problem that makes red blood cells more fragile or is born with high red blood cell numbers.

The tell-tale sign of jaundice in newborns is yellowing skin. It begins on the face, then starts appearing on the chest and stomach, and then the legs. Apart from the skin, the white part of the baby's eyes also turns yellow. Increased bilirubin levels in the body can also cause a baby to be sleepy and fussy.

It is important to note that identifying jaundice on dark skin may be difficult. What parents can do is press on the skin of the baby and check if the area is yellow when you lift the finger. If it is yellow, it could be jaundice.

Jaundice in newborns is not very concerning. Some even go away on their own. However, if your baby starts to look very sick, is not eating or feeding well, is sleepy all the time and if the jaundice gets worse, it is best to consult a doctor or pediatrician.

"The best preventive of infant jaundice is adequate feeding," according to the Mayo Clinic.

"Breast-fed infants should have eight to 12 feedings a day for the first several days of life. Formula-fed infants usually should have 1 to 2 ounces (about 30 to 60 milliliters) of formula every two to three hours for the first week," the health body explains.

If your newborn has already developed jaundice, here is what you can do about it:

- Breastfeed more often

- Doctors may recommend frequent feeding or supplementation

- Light therapy which involves placing the baby under a special lamp that emits light in the blue-green spectrum

- In severe but rare cases, the baby may require an exchange transfusion of blood. Speak to your doctor about the same.