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The Curious Bag
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 60 percent of babies are born with jaundice. Jaundice is caused by a naturally occurring substance in the human body, and some babies are more likely to get it than others.
Red Blood Cells
Unlike adults, a baby's red blood cells have a very short life span. As red blood cells "die" they create a naturally occurring substance called bilirubin that is sent through the bloodstream to the liver.
Bilirubin
Because of the quick turnover in red blood cells, a lot of bilirubin, far more than usual, floods the blood, causing the baby's skin to become jaundiced and turn yellow.
Liver
In cases of jaundice, the baby's new and immature liver may not be able to process the excess of bilirubin that has been created fast enough.
Absorption of Bilirubin
When the liver does not remove enough bilirubin from the bloodstream, the bilirubin may be reabsorbed by the intestines. This process can also cause an infant to become jaundiced.
Other Factors
Infants who are premature, bruised at birth, have difficulty eating or who have siblings or family members who had jaundice are more likely to have jaundice as a newborn.
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