Newborn jaundice is very common and in most babies it is harmless and goes away on its own. But if jaundice is very severe and not treated in time, it can damage a baby’s brain and this can lead to cerebral palsy in some cases. The brain damage caused by very high levels of bilirubin is called kernicterus, and kernicterus is a known cause of cerebral palsy in infants.[1][4][7]
What is newborn jaundice
Jaundice makes a baby’s skin and the whites of the eyes look yellow. It happens when there is too much bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow substance that forms when red blood cells break down. A newborn’s liver is still immature, so it may not clear bilirubin quickly enough, especially in the first week of life.[1][3][6]
Because of this, about 80 percent of newborns develop some degree of jaundice in the first days after birth.[1] In most babies, this is mild, appears around day 2 or 3, and fades within 1 to 2 weeks as the liver matures and the body clears the extra bilirubin.[3] This usual kind of jaundice does not harm the baby and does not cause cerebral palsy.
How jaundice can become dangerous
The problem arises when bilirubin levels become very high or stay high for too long. When the level is high enough, bilirubin can cross the blood brain barrier and collect in certain parts of the brain, especially areas that control movement and hearing.[1][3][5]
This condition is called kernicterus. It is a rare but severe form of brain damage that results from extreme, untreated, or poorly treated jaundice.[1][3] Several medical and legal information sources describe kernicterus as a preventable injury when jaundice is not recognized or treated in time, for example at https://www.cerebralpalsyhub.com/birth-injury/kernicterus/ and https://www.lblaw.co.uk/medical-negligence/birth-injury/kernicterus-claims/.[1][3]
When bilirubin injures the brain, it can cause lasting neurological problems such as:
• cerebral palsy
• hearing loss
• problems with eye movements
• learning difficulties and developmental delay
• problems with speech, coordination, and posture[1][3][5][6]
Many experts and organizations specifically list kernicterus as a cause of cerebral palsy. For example, https://www.sokolovelaw.com/birth-injuries/cerebral-palsy/causes/ notes that kernicterus, a form of brain damage from untreated jaundice, is one of the causes of cerebral palsy in infants.[7] The same connection is described at https://www.nationalbirthinjurylaw.com/what-causes-cerebral-palsy and https://int.livhospital.com/valuable-who-is-at-high-risk-for-jaundice-in-newborns/.[4][5]
So, can newborn jaundice cause cerebral palsy if untreated
The most accurate way to say it is:
• Mild, common newborn jaundice by itself does not cause cerebral palsy.
• However, severe jaundice that is not treated can lead to kernicterus, and kernicterus can cause permanent brain damage that often includes cerebral palsy.[1][4][5][7]
In other words, jaundice leads to cerebral palsy indirectly, through the brain injury of kernicterus. This is why many medical and legal sites talk about “preventing severe jaundice” and “preventing kernicterus” as part of preventing some cases of cerebral palsy.[2][4][5]
Who is at higher risk of dangerous jaundice
Any newborn can develop serious jaundice, but some babies are at higher risk and need closer monitoring:
• Premature babies
Premature babies have less mature livers and are more likely to develop high bilirubin levels and neurologic complications.[1][5] They are also at higher baseline risk for cerebral palsy from other causes, so avoiding additional brain injury from jaundice is very important.[4]
• Babies with bruising or birth trauma
Large bruises or scalp swellings from a difficult birth break down into bilirubin, which can quickly raise bilirubin levels.[1]
• Babies with blood type incompatibility
When the mother’s and baby’s blood types are incompatible, the baby’s red blood cells can break down faster, causing more bilirubin to form. This is a classic cause of severe jaundice and kernicterus.
• Babies with certain genetic or medical conditions
Conditions such as G6PD deficiency or infections can increase red blood cell breakdown or affect the liver’s ability to process bilirubin, increasing the risk of severe jaundice.[5][9]
• Babies who are very unwell or not feeding
Poor feeding, dehydration, or infections like sepsis can worsen jaundice and at the same time strain the brain, raising the risk of injury.[2][4]
Signs parents should watch for
Parents are often the first to notice jaundice at home. Early recognition and quick action are key to preventing kernicterus and cerebral palsy.
Watch for:
• yellow skin, especially on the face, chest, and legs
• yellow color in the whites of the eyes
• very sleepy baby who is hard to wake
• poor feeding or difficulty sucking
• high pitched or unusual cry
• stiffness or limpness of the body
• arching of the back or neck
• fewer wet diapers or dark urine
Normal newborns are sleepy and may have some yellowing, but if a baby is too sleepy to feed well, or the yellow color seems to be spreading or getting deeper, this should be treated as urgent. Sources like https://int.livhospital.com/valuable-who-is-at-high-risk-for-jaundic
