Jaundice in Babies in Grand Rapids, MI

Newborn jaundice is very common in Grand Rapids and across Michigan. It causes a yellowish tinge to a baby’s skin and the whites of their eyes. Jaundice happens when there is a build-up of a substance called bilirubin in the baby’s blood and tissues.

Bilirubin is normally processed by the liver and then removed from the body. Because a newborn’s liver is still maturing, it can take a few days to work efficiently. That’s why about 6 in 10 full‑term newborns develop some degree of jaundice.

Families in Grand Rapids can get evaluation and treatment for newborn jaundice through local hospitals such as Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health) Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, and Mercy Health.

Why Jaundice Is Common in Newborns

Physiological jaundice (normal newborn jaundice)

Most babies develop what’s called physiological jaundice. This is a normal, temporary process:

  • Jaundice usually appears on day 2 or 3 of life
  • It often peaks around day 3–5
  • In healthy, full-term babies, it usually goes away on its own within about a week to 10 days

If your baby is full-term, feeding well, and otherwise healthy, mild jaundice is usually not a cause for concern. Your baby’s doctor or midwife in Grand Rapids will still check bilirubin levels to make sure they are safe.

More common and more serious in premature babies

Jaundice is more common and can be more serious in premature babies (born before 37 weeks). Premature infants have:

  • A less mature liver
  • More fragile red blood cells
  • Higher risk of complications from very high bilirubin levels

Premature or sick newborns in Grand Rapids are typically monitored closely in newborn nurseries or NICUs at facilities like Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital or Trinity Health Grand Rapids.

What Causes Jaundice in Babies?

How the liver normally removes bilirubin

Before birth, in the uterus, the baby’s bilirubin is passed through the umbilical cord and removed by the mother’s body.

After birth:

  1. The baby’s liver has to do this job on its own
  2. It can take a few days for the liver to work at full speed
  3. During this time, bilirubin can build up, causing jaundice

Almost all newborns have higher bilirubin levels than older children or adults, but not all develop visible jaundice.

Factors that can make jaundice worse

  • Prematurity
  • Dehydration (not getting enough fluids)
  • Poor feeding or poor weight gain
  • Certain medical conditions affecting the liver or red blood cells

In Grand Rapids, dry indoor air from heated homes during long Michigan winters can sometimes contribute to mild dehydration if babies are not feeding well, so regular feeds are especially important.

Other Causes of Jaundice in Babies

While physiological jaundice is the most common and usually harmless, other causes need medical attention. These include:

1. Breastfeeding and breast milk jaundice

There are two separate but related conditions:

Breastfeeding jaundice (early-onset)

In the first few days:

  • The mother may produce small amounts of colostrum before her milk “comes in”
  • If the baby is not getting enough milk, this can lead to:
    • Mild dehydration
    • Slower removal of bilirubin by the liver

This can make jaundice more noticeable. The key treatment is usually:

  • Improving breastfeeding technique
  • Feeding every 2–3 hours
  • Working with a lactation consultant (available through hospitals like Spectrum/Corewell Health, Metro Health, and local Grand Rapids clinics)

Breast milk jaundice (late-onset)

Some babies develop breast milk jaundice:

  • Appears after the first week of life
  • Can last several weeks
  • Thought to be related to certain enzymes in breast milk
  • Baby is otherwise healthy, feeding well, and growing

This type of jaundice is usually harmless, and:

  • Breastfeeding should be continued
  • Sometimes phototherapy (light treatment) is needed in the first few days, but usually no long-term treatment is required

2. Blood group incompatibilities (Rh or ABO)

If the mother and baby have different blood groups, the mother’s body may produce antibodies that attack the baby’s red blood cells.

This can cause:

  • Hemolytic anaemia (red blood cells breaking down too quickly)
  • Very high bilirubin levels
  • Severe jaundice within hours of birth
  • Baby may be born anaemic

These babies need close monitoring and sometimes phototherapy or more intensive treatment at Grand Rapids hospitals with neonatal care units.

3. Haemolytic anaemia

In some cases, a baby’s immune system mistakenly destroys red blood cells (an autoimmune process), or there may be:

  • An inherited blood disorder
  • A serious infection such as sepsis

This leads to:

  • Increased breakdown of red blood cells
  • Higher bilirubin levels
  • More severe jaundice

Treatment depends on the underlying cause and may include antibiotics, supportive care, and sometimes blood transfusions.

4. Neonatal hepatitis (liver inflammation)

Some viruses can cause hepatitis in newborns, including:

  • Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
  • Rubella
  • Hepatitis A, B, or C

For many babies with neonatal hepatitis, the exact virus is never identified. Infection may occur:

  • Before birth (in the womb)
  • Around the time of delivery
  • Within the first month of life

Babies may have:

  • Jaundice
  • Poor feeding
  • Enlarged liver
  • Abnormal liver tests

There is often no specific antiviral treatment. Care may include:

  • Vitamin and mineral supplements
  • Medications to improve bile flow
  • Close follow-up with a pediatric gastroenterologist (specialists are available through major Grand Rapids children’s hospitals)

5. Galactosaemia

Galactosaemia is a rare inherited disorder where the baby:

  • Lacks the enzyme needed to break down galactose, a sugar found in milk
  • High levels of galactose can damage the liver, causing:
    • Jaundice
    • Poor feeding
    • Vomiting
    • Failure to gain weight

Treatment:

  • Immediate removal of galactose and lactose from the baby’s diet
  • Stopping breastfeeding
  • Using a special prescription formula that contains no galactose or lactose

Early diagnosis is critical. Michigan’s newborn screening program, used in Grand Rapids hospitals, routinely checks for galactosaemia shortly after birth.

6. Biliary atresia

In biliary atresia:

  • The bile ducts that carry bile (and bilirubin) from the liver to the intestine are:
    • Blocked
    • Destroyed
    • Or never properly developed

Without working bile ducts:

  • Bilirubin builds up in the liver
  • Jaundice becomes persistent and often more severe
  • The baby’s stools are always very pale or clay-colored
  • Urine may be dark

This condition is serious and needs early diagnosis. Treatment is surgery to connect a part of the liver to the small intestine so bile can drain properly. This surgery is typically done at specialized pediatric centers, such as Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids or other regional children’s hospitals in Michigan.

Symptoms of Jaundice in Babies

Contact your baby’s doctor, midwife, or pediatrician in Grand Rapids if you notice:

  • A yellow tinge to the skin, usually first on the face and scalp
  • Yellowing of the whites of the eyes (sclera)
  • Yellow color spreading to the chest, stomach, arms, and legs
  • Palms of the hands and soles of the feet turning yellow (sign of more severe jaundice)
  • Unusual drowsiness or difficulty waking for feeds
  • Feeding difficulties or poor sucking
  • Poor weight gain
  • Very pale or white stools
  • Dark urine

Because Michigan winters often mean babies spend more time indoors and bundled up, it can be harder to notice subtle skin color changes. Good indoor lighting and regular newborn checkups in Grand Rapids help catch jaundice early.

How Jaundice in Babies Is Diagnosed

To find the cause and severity of jaundice, your baby’s healthcare provider may use:

  • Physical examination
    Always done to assess the pattern and extent of yellowing.

  • Skin reading of bilirubin levels
    A non-invasive device placed on the baby’s skin (transcutaneous bilirubin meter).

  • Blood tests (when needed)

    • Total and direct bilirubin levels
    • Blood type and antibody screen
    • Complete blood count
    • Liver function tests
    • Tests for infections or metabolic disorders

  • Ultrasound scan
    To look at the liver and bile ducts if a structural problem is suspected (such as biliary atresia).

  • Liver biopsy or exploratory surgery (rare)
    Used only when necessary to confirm certain diagnoses.

These tests are available through major Grand Rapids hospitals and pediatric clinics.

Treatment for Jaundice in Babies

Treatment depends on:

  • How high the bilirubin level is
  • The baby’s age (in hours or days)
  • Whether the baby is full-term or premature
  • The underlying cause

Mild jaundice

For mild physiological jaundice:

  • Often no specific treatment is required
  • Your baby’s doctor will recommend:
    • Frequent feeding (every 2–3 hours for breastfeeding, every 3–4 hours for formula)
    • Monitoring weight gain and diaper output
    • Follow-up visits to check bilirubin levels

Moderate jaundice – phototherapy

If bilirubin levels are higher, your baby may need phototherapy:

  • Baby is usually undressed to the diaper and placed in a warm incubator or bassinet under blue-spectrum lights
  • Baby’s eyes are protected with special shields
  • Alternatively, a biliblanket may be used:
    • A soft pad that wraps around the baby and shines blue light directly onto the skin
  • Treatment usually lasts 1–2 days
  • Can be done:
    • In the hospital (newborn nursery or pediatric unit)
    • Sometimes at home with a portable biliblanket, arranged through your Grand Rapids healthcare provider

To prevent dehydration and help remove bilirubin:

  • Regular feeding every 3–4 hours is essential
  • Breastfeeding is usually continued during phototherapy

In some cases, multiple phototherapy lights are used at once. These babies are typically treated in a newborn nursery or NICU.

Severe jaundice

Very high bilirubin levels can be dangerous and may require:

  • Intensive phototherapy (multiple lights, continuous treatment)
  • Close monitoring in a hospital setting
  • Exchange transfusion (rare, used only in very severe cases):
    • A portion of the baby’s blood is gradually removed and replaced with donor blood
    • Helps rapidly lower bilirubin and remove harmful antibodies

These treatments are usually done in specialized neonatal units at major Grand Rapids hospitals.

Treatment for Specific Causes of Jaundice

Physiological jaundice

  • Often no treatment or short course of phototherapy if levels are borderline high
  • Frequent feeding and monitoring

Breastfeeding and breast milk jaundice

  • Continue breastfeeding
  • Work with a lactation consultant to improve latch and milk transfer
  • Occasionally short-term phototherapy in the first days
  • Typically no treatment needed once levels are stable and baby is growing well

Blood group incompatibilities

  • May need:
    • Phototherapy (often for a longer course)
    • Close monitoring of bilirubin and hemoglobin levels
    • In severe cases, exchange transfusion

Haemolytic anaemia

  • Treatment depends on the cause:
    • For infection-related hemolysis (e.g., malaria in endemic regions), specific medications such as anti-malarials are used
    • Supportive care, possible blood transfusions, and treatment of the underlying disease

Neonatal hepatitis

  • Often no specific antiviral medication
  • Supportive care, including:
    • Vitamin and mineral supplements
    • Nutritional support
    • Medications to improve bile flow in some cases
  • Close follow-up with a pediatric liver specialist

Galactosaemia

  • Immediate removal of galactose and lactose from the diet
  • Stop breastfeeding
  • Use a special lactose-free, galactose-free formula
  • Lifelong dietary management with guidance from a pediatric metabolic specialist and dietitian

Biliary atresia

  • Surgical treatment is required
  • A procedure (often a Kasai portoenterostomy) connects part of the liver directly to the small intestine to allow bile drainage
  • Early surgery (ideally before 8 weeks of age) offers the best outcomes
  • Long-term follow-up with a pediatric liver team is needed

When to Call a Grand Rapids Healthcare Provider

Contact your pediatrician, family doctor, midwife, or local clinic in Grand Rapids right away if:

  • Your baby is less than 24 hours old and looks yellow
  • Jaundice is getting worse or spreading to the arms, legs, palms, or soles
  • Your baby is very sleepy, hard to wake, or not feeding well
  • Your baby has fever, is irritable, or seems unwell
  • Stools are very pale or white
  • Urine is dark yellow or brown
  • Jaundice lasts more than 2 weeks in a full-term baby (or more than 3 weeks in a premature baby)

Early evaluation and treatment in Grand Rapids can prevent complications and keep your baby safe.

Local Grand Rapids & Michigan Resources

Parents in the Grand Rapids area can access help for newborn jaundice through:

  • Corewell Health (Spectrum Health) – Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital
    Pediatric specialists and NICU services.

  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    Maternity care, newborn nurseries, and pediatric services.

  • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
    Family medicine, pediatrics, and newborn care.

  • Mercy Health & local pediatric clinics
    Routine newborn checkups and jaundice monitoring.

  • Kent County Health Department
    Public health information, breastfeeding support referrals, and maternal-child health services.

  • Grand Rapids Public Health and community clinics
    Support for families, especially those without a regular pediatrician or with limited insurance.

Key Points About Jaundice in Babies

  • Jaundice is caused by a build-up of bilirubin in a baby’s blood and tissues.
  • It is very common, especially in the first week of life.
  • The condition is more common and more serious in premature babies.
  • While most jaundice is physiological and harmless, it can also be caused by underlying blood or liver conditions.
  • Breastfeeding should usually be continued, even if jaundice is present.
  • Phototherapy is the most common treatment for moderate to severe jaundice.
  • Early evaluation by a Grand Rapids healthcare provider is important if jaundice appears early, looks severe, or if your baby is feeding poorly or seems unwell.

If you are in Grand Rapids, MI and have any concerns about jaundice in your newborn, contact your baby’s doctor, midwife, or local hospital maternity unit for advice and assessment.