What are the signs and symptoms of jaundice in newborns?
Jaundice makes your baby’s skin and the whites of his eyes turn yellow in color. This yellow coloring usually starts on your baby’s face and moves down to the chest. It then goes to the abdomen (belly), and spreads to the arms and legs. Depending on the cause, your baby’s jaundice may appear at birth or anytime after. Your baby may feed poorly or become fussy or sleepy if the bilirubin level continues to increase. When the level stays very high, his brain and nerves may be affected. Your baby may develop fever and a high-pitched cry. Muscle spasms (stiffness) may also be present. When this happens, your baby may arch his neck and body backward.
