Common Questions About Neonatal Jaundice

Who Gets Jaundice? Most newborns have some jaundice, often called “physiological” or “normal” jaundice, in the first week or so after birth. Just after birth, there is often extra bilirubin from the breakdown of red blood cells, and the baby’s liver is still developing, so this can lead to extra bilirubin in the blood for a short period of time. In breastfed babies, jaundice often lasts for 3 weeks or more. In formulafed babies, most jaundice goes away by 2 weeks. Jaundice is more common in babies who are breastfed, particularly babies who are having difficulty nursing. Jaundice is also more common in babies who are premature. In some cases, jaundice can be due to the baby having a different blood type than the mother, often called “blood type incompatibility.”