Jaundice in Newborns (Hyperbilirubinemia) - Exams and Tests

Exams and Tests

Your health professional will diagnose jaundice in your newborn by doing a physical exam and taking a medical history. As part of the medical history, your baby's health professional may ask questions about:

• The mother's general health, particularly during the pregnancy.
• Whether your baby was born prematurely or at full term.
• Whether your baby had any difficulties during delivery.
• Your baby's birth weight and whether there has been any weight gain or loss since birth.
• Your baby's feeding and elimination habits since birth.
• Whether the baby and mother have incompatible blood types (ABO or Rh incompatibility).
• Your family history of health conditions that could cause jaundice.

The health professional will examine your baby and evaluate his or her skin color. This may include pressing a finger lightly on your baby's skin. The health professional will note whether yellowing related to jaundice is visible only in the eyes, face, and head or if it is also noticed on the chest and lower body. He or she may also look for signs of underlying conditions that can cause jaundice.

A transcutaneous jaundice meter may be used to measure your baby's bilirubin level. If the results are concerning, a bilirubin test may be done to more precisely measure the bilirubin level in your baby's blood. The results will help your health professional determine whether treatment is needed.

If the health professional thinks that another condition is causing the hyperbilirubinemia, more tests may be done. For example, if the health professional thinks that a difference in the baby's blood type and the mother's blood type (ABO or Rh incompatibility) is causing the hyperbilirubinemia, blood type tests may be done on the mother's and baby's blood.

Many mothers and their newborns leave the hospital within 48 hours of the baby's birth, often before signs of jaundice develop. Your baby should have a follow-up exam with your health professional within the first 5 days after birth. Also, call your health professional if at any time you notice a yellow tinge to your baby's skin and eyes.