
Common concerns in the first days
Physiological jaundice
Many babies develop ‘physiological jaundice’ on the second or third day after birth. The liver normally breaks down the red blood cells, producing pigment called bilirubin. Immature livers in some babies, take a few days to cope with the breakdown and excretion of bilirubin, which causes an excessive build-up in the blood and makes the skin and eyes yellow. A minority of newborns require testing, and even fewer need phototherapy.