It is very common for babies to have jaundice for long periods of time as long
as they are breastfeeding exclusively and they are gaining weight well.  This is
the *norm*.  Usually, the level is fairly low and the jaundice is not obvious,
but if you look for it, you will notice it.  Asian babies are more jaundiced and
are jaundiced for a longer period of time than Caucasian babies.

Now, it might just be possible (though quite unlikely) for a ventricular septal
defect to increase the level of jaundice, if there is enough turbulence of the
blood through the defect to cause hemolysis.  This occurs with prosthetic
valves, but I have not heard of it with a VSD.

The other thing you want to make sure of is the baby does not have a urinary
tract infection, that he is not hypothyroid, and that the jaundice is not of the
conjugated type (direct reacting).

Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC