DEAR MAYO CLINIC: As I get closer to my due date, my doctor has been talking with me about treatments if my baby develops jaundice. Can you tell me more about jaundice?
ANSWER: Like you, the first question new parents usually ask is, “What is newborn jaundice?” The second is, “How is it treated?” Here are some answers to typical new-parent questions:
What is newborn jaundice?
Jaundice is a common condition in newborns, especially in babies born before 37 weeks and some breastfed babies. Between 50% and 80% of newborns in the U.S. develop jaundice. It’s caused by a buildup of a pigment called bilirubin in the baby’s blood. Jaundice usually happens because the baby’s liver isn’t mature enough to get rid of excess bilirubin.
