Do all new born babies get jaundice?
Many newborns who are otherwise normal develop yellow colour of their skin (jaundice) after the first day. This is called physiological jaundice. It appears on the second day, reaches a peak on the 4th or 5th day and then disappears by 7th or 8th day. If the baby has jaundice that appears within 24 hours of birth, persists beyond 14 days of life, or is deep, involving abdomen, palms and soles, he must be shown to a doctor. Mild neonatal jaundice can be treated by exposing the baby to sunlight in the morning or evening hours. Q. What are the signs of serious sickness in a neonate? A baby who is feeding well on the breast and has warm and pink palms and soles is a healthy baby. The following are the danger signs in neonates: Fever/ feels cold to touch despite adequate clothing and warm environment Loose stools Abnormal movements suggestive of convulsions Continuous crying Cough/breathing difficulty Irritability Lethargy Inability to feed Persistent vomiting Abdominal distension Pus from