Why is the white of the newborn's eyes a little yellow?

The yellowish whites of a newborn's eyes actually mean that the newborn's red membrane is yellow. The main reason for this phenomenon is neonatal jaundice. Generally, if a newborn has a bilirubin metabolism disorder within one month after birth, it is possible that the bilirubin content in his body rises sharply, which will cause the skin, mucous membranes, iris, etc. to turn yellow. There is no need to worry too much about neonatal jaundice. Generally, neonatal jaundice can be pathological or physiological.

Neonatal physiological jaundice appears 2-3 days after birth, reaches a peak on the 4th to 6th day, and disappears on the 7th to 10th day. It lasts longer in premature infants. Except for mild loss of appetite, there are no other clinical symptoms. Neonatal pathological jaundice is jaundice that appears within 24 hours after birth, does not subside within 2-3 weeks, or even continues to deepen and worsen, or reappears after subsiding, or jaundice begins to appear within one to several weeks after birth.

It is important to note that some newborns may have jaundice due to sepsis, neonatal pneumonia, biliary atresia, etc. This condition must be treated in time, otherwise it may be life-threatening.

If the whites of a newborn's eyes are a little yellow, you should get checked out actively. Bilirubin testing can be done, and this testing method is an important means of diagnosing neonatal jaundice. In addition, blood type, red blood cell and white blood cell tests can also be performed. A methemoglobin reduction rate test can also be performed. Since jaundice is often closely related to the liver, liver function tests should be actively performed for newborns with yellow irises.