tipstipskehamilan. Jaundice is a condition that causes the skin, sclerae (the whites of the eyes) and mucus membranes to become yellow that is caused by high levels of bilirubin in the blood. Jaundice is not a disease but rather a symptom that can occur in many different diseases. Jaundice is a disorder that results from high levels of bilirubin in the blood. The condition itself is not a fatal condition, however, if the bilirubin gets to dangerous levels it can be a sign of extensive liver damage, which can be life-threatening.
Everyone has bilirubin in their blood, which is created when red blood cells break down. The hemoglobin in the red blood cells changes into bilirubin is called unconjugated bilirubin. One of the liver's functions is to filter out waste, such as bilirubin, from the blood.
Once it is in the liver, other chemicals latch on to the bilirubin, creating a substance called conjugated bilirubin (water soluble bilirubin), which is secreted in bile (a digestive juice released by the liver) and then excreted through the urine, stools and sweat. Bilirubin is what gives the stools its brown color.
Babies are born with an excess of red blood cells and often times their livers aren't developed enough to filter out the bilirubin. When the babies bloodstream may have a high bilirubin level, it is causes the yellowish staining of the skin and sclerae (the whites of the eyes).
The color of the skin and sclerae vary depending on the level of bilirubin. When the bilirubin level is mildly elevated, they are yellowish. When the bilirubin level is high, they tend to be brown.
Jaundice usually appears on the 3rd day and disappears by 7th day. It is not dangerous as long as the bilirubin level does not go up too high. Early feeding after birth may reduce the prevalence of jaundice therefore try putting baby to the breast in the delivery room. This also stimulates the breast to start producing milk.
For breastfed babies at least eight to ten daily feedings is suggested. It is important that all pregnant women go for prenatal checkups in order to identify the possibility of this problem occurring, so that preventive treatment for jaundice can be started fairly quickly after birth.
Once it is in the liver, other chemicals latch on to the bilirubin, creating a substance called conjugated bilirubin (water soluble bilirubin), which is secreted in bile (a digestive juice released by the liver) and then excreted through the urine, stools and sweat. Bilirubin is what gives the stools its brown color.
Babies are born with an excess of red blood cells and often times their livers aren't developed enough to filter out the bilirubin. When the babies bloodstream may have a high bilirubin level, it is causes the yellowish staining of the skin and sclerae (the whites of the eyes).
The color of the skin and sclerae vary depending on the level of bilirubin. When the bilirubin level is mildly elevated, they are yellowish. When the bilirubin level is high, they tend to be brown.
Jaundice usually appears on the 3rd day and disappears by 7th day. It is not dangerous as long as the bilirubin level does not go up too high. Early feeding after birth may reduce the prevalence of jaundice therefore try putting baby to the breast in the delivery room. This also stimulates the breast to start producing milk.
For breastfed babies at least eight to ten daily feedings is suggested. It is important that all pregnant women go for prenatal checkups in order to identify the possibility of this problem occurring, so that preventive treatment for jaundice can be started fairly quickly after birth.