I Don't See Colour. How Disregard For Black & Brown Bodies Can Prove Fatal!

Lorna Phillip Author

Posted On Sep 11, 2023 |

It's 2023 and we're ONLY NOW knowing that jaundice looks different in Black & Brown babies? Black & Brown babies lives DO matter!

NHS Health & Race Observatory's Recommendations to Improve the Care of Black & Brown Babies

I know sometimes as a Black mama/parent it can feel a little doom and gloom around pregnancy and birth. Let me reassure you, it can still be joyous, especially if we equip ourselves and our families with the knowledge to be able to spot things that health professionals sometimes miss.

One of the recent topics of conversation in which Black and Brown babies seem to draw the short straw (again!) is jaundice. You've probably heard of jaundice and may have even experienced it with your own baby but here is the official definition of jaundice taken from the NHS website: -

Jaundice is caused by the build-up of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow substance produced when red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body, are broken down.

Jaundice is common in newborn babies because babies have a high number of red blood cells in their blood, which are broken down and replaced frequently.

Also, a newborn baby's liver is not fully developed, so it's less effective at removing the bilirubin from the blood.

Source: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/...

So, what is all the fuss around jaundice in Black and Brown babies?

Well, the way they look for jaundice in the UK is usually visual signs with the most obvious being yellowing skin. Now obviously yellowing skin will not be so identifiable in Black and Brown babies and so it's unfortunately being missed or the diagnosis is delayed - which can be dangerous!

For your own family's safety, please note these signs of jaundice in Black and Brown babies:

• Yellowing of the eyes
• Yellowing of the gums
• Dark, yellow urine (this is usually clear in newborns)
• Yellowing of the palms of the hands and soles of the feet
• Pale coloured poo
• Some say when you press gently on the baby’s nose then if jaundice is present then you will see a yellowing colour

Now even with all of these additional ways to spot jaundice, it's criminal that many Black and Brown babies are STILL receiving treatment far too late simply because the diagnosis is not being made early enough. 

Is this acceptable in 2023? 

Absolutely not and is just another example of how Black and Brown families are being let down by the healthcare system. How is it that midwives are still only being taught how to spot jaundice on white skin only? 

Anyway, I digress. So, following the case of Baby Elliana who is a Black baby who was only diagnosed with jaundice after FIVE days even though her blood results showed high levels of bilirubin on more than one occasion previously (seriously you can’t make this stuff up but google baby Elliana so you can share my disgust but also the relief of seeing she is perfectly fine now) the HSIB (Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch) launched an investigation and wrote a report on their findings and within the report they made recommendations.

A recommendation to help protect the health of Black & Brown skinned babies is to offer blood tests, even if there are no other signs of jaundice. Now this was done in the case of Baby Elliana but still nothing was done and here we are. It does not give much comfort but there were recommendations of ensuring staff are aware that the tests for bilirubin have been carried out so that they are aware that they need to look for these results.

Now I think it is important to note that jaundice is very common in newborns, especially breastfed babies, surprising right? But don’t worry, according to the NHS website, the benefits of breastfeeding far out way the risks associated with normal newborn jaundice. Jaundice does not usually show until around 2 days after birth and will usually go on its own by 2 weeks, however, some babies will need treatment to help clear the jaundice.

It's important that you arm yourself with this information and add it to your arsenal just in case you need to advocate for your baby. If you suspect something is not right speak up and do not take no for an answer. What’s the worst that can happen? They can do the tests and everything comes back clear? Great!

The worst-case scenario could be brain damage if jaundice continues undiagnosed; whilst this may be rare it's important to know.

Knowledge really is power and it's important that we empower each other with the knowledge we receive especially when it comes to our babies.

Black & Brown babies lives DO matter!

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