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