Jaundice in Newborn Babies: What You Need to Know
Hearing the news that your new-born child has been afflicted by a medical condition of any kind is understandably distressing. Thankfully, whilst many babies do suffer from jaundice in their first few days, it is a well-recognised condition that medical staff can treat quickly and effectively, so in most cases there is nothing to worry about. Should complications occur however, you may wish to speak to a clinical negligence solicitor about the prospect of making a jaundice or kernicterus compensation claim.
What is Jaundice?
Jaundice is the result of a build-up of a compound called bilirubin in the blood, which is produced when red blood cells are formed. New-born babies break down and reproduce their red blood cells more quickly than older children or adults, which contributes to the build-up, coupled with their relatively underdeveloped livers.
The condition usually presents itself in the form of noticeably yellow skin – especially on the palms or the soles of the feet, and / or discoloured urine – particularly when it is a dark yellow colour.
Midwives and doctors are trained to recognise these signs, monitor bilirubin levels, and take protective measures where necessary. Where they fail to do so adequately, you may be entitled to make a birth injury claim for any adverse consequences.
Should I Be Concerned if my Baby Develops Jaundice?
In most cases the answer here is no; around 60% of new-born babies are affected by the condition and it is rare for it to persist beyond 10-14 days after birth, given proper medical supervision and treatment if necessary.
Most babies do not require treatment however and the supervisory period of 10-14 days can normally be completed at home, depending on the concentration of bilirubin found in your baby’s blood by medical staff.
Are There Any Complications That Can Arise From Jaundice?
In roughly one out of every 100,000 cases of jaundice, extremely high levels of bilirubin can build up in the baby’s blood and cross the blood / brain barrier, resulting a condition known as kernicterus.
This can initially present as poor awareness / limited response to stimuli on the part of your child, as well as floppiness in the muscles and difficulties feeding. As the condition progresses, your child may experience arching of the spine, seizures, brain damage and spinal injuries.
Should it be allowed to develop, kernicterus represents a serious threat to your child’s life and wellbeing and should be addressed urgently by medical staff. Its effects can be life-changing and irreversible.
How Can Kernicterus be Prevented?
If when monitoring a child with elevated levels of bilirubin medical staff become concerned about the risks surrounding kernicterus, two primary treatment methods are widely recognised as affective preventative treatments in the UK:
- The first is phototherapy; wherein a special light is shone on the child’s skin, which changes the bilirubin into a state that their liver can more easily process.
- The second is a blood exchange, where a suitable donor provides blood with lower levels of bilirubin as a substitute for that of the child.
Should I Make a Jaundice or Kernicterus Compensation Claim?
Provided kernicterus risks are identified early enough, the above treatments can almost always head it off without too much difficulty. As a result, it is considered a largely preventable condition.
With that in mind, if your child’s jaundice is left untreated and kernicterus does develop, you should seriously consider making a jaundice / kernicterus compensation claim, or a birth injury claim for any resulting harm to your child.
My name is Louise and I am the Digital Marketing and Administrative Assistant at MyBump2Baby. I have been writing in the parenting niche for over 2 years specialising in fertility, pregnancy, baby and baby name support articles.