The first-time parents of an infant girl 2 days postpartum are distressed at the jaundiced appearance of her skin and are eager for both an explanation and treatment for the problem. Which of the following responses by their physician is most accurate?
A) "Your daughter's young liver is unable to get rid of the waste products from old red blood cells."
B) "Because your daughter's kidneys are so small, they have a hard time getting rid of the wastes that are always accumulating in her blood."
C) "Nearly half of all infants have this problem, and while it is distressing to look at, it is largely harmless and will resolve in time."
D) "This is a sign that your baby needs more milk than she is currently getting, and increased breast-feeding will act to flush these pigments out of her system."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Bilirubin is formed from the breakdown of hemoglobin in red blood cells. Normally about two thirds of the unconjugated bilirubin produced by a term newborn can be effectively cleared by the liver. However, the relative immaturity of the newborn liver and the shortened life span of the fetal red blood cells may predispose the term newborn to hyperbilirubinemia. Bilirubin clearance is not the domain of the kidneys, and treatment is often necessary. Jaundice can sometimes be addressed by increasingbreast-feeding, but it is not a sign in and of itself of insufficient feeding.

The First-Time Parents of an Infant Girl 2 Days Postpartum