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Jaundice
A yellowish discoloration of the skin and other tissues. Jaundice comes from the accumulation of a natural waste product, bilirubin. As red blood cells and other tissues are replaced in the body, the waste products of their breakdown are normally eliminated by the liver. Before birth, the placenta is very efficient in removing these waste products; the baby's liver does not need to remove the bilirubin. After delivery, the infant's liver must take over this elimination function. It takes a few weeks for the baby's liver to fully assume this function. Until liver excretion has increased to keep pace with formation of the bilirubin waste product, there is a build up in the body. Bilirubin has a yellow color, and when the levels are high it stains the skin and other tissues.
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