My Baby Has Jaundice. Should We Reschedule Our Newborn Session?
One of the questions I receive quite frequently from new parents is:
“My baby has jaundice. Should we postpone our newborn session?”
First of all—take a deep breath, mama.
It may surprise you to learn that a large number of newborns experience at least a little jaundice during their first days of life. It’s incredibly common and often simply part of the newborn journey.
Jaundice typically causes a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, which understandably makes many parents worry about how their baby will photograph.
So… should you reschedule your newborn session?
The answer is:
It depends.
In Most Cases, There Is No Need to Reschedule
For many babies, jaundice is mild and resolves on its own within the first couple of weeks of life. In these situations, there is usually no reason to postpone your session.
As a photographer, I carefully edit every image in my post-processing workflow. This includes gently correcting skin tones and reducing the yellow appearance caused by mild jaundice, helping your baby look natural while still preserving all of their beautiful newborn features.
Those tiny fingers, sleepy stretches, and precious expressions are all still absolutely worth documenting.
And remember—newborns change incredibly quickly. Those first days pass in the blink of an eye.
When Should We Reschedule?
There are situations where treatment for jaundice is necessary. Some babies may require additional monitoring, phototherapy, or a short hospital stay.
If your little one needs medical treatment or has been admitted to the hospital, we will absolutely postpone your session until your baby has been discharged and is feeling better.
Your newborn’s health and safety will always come first.
Always.
Photographs can wait.
Your baby’s well-being cannot.
The Good News
One of the beautiful things about newborn photography is that there is flexibility.
While I love photographing babies during those first 5 to 10 days when they’re especially sleepy and curly, beautiful images can still be created beyond that window if circumstances require us to wait.
Your baby’s story doesn’t become any less special simply because we adjust our timeline.
My Advice?
If your baby has mild jaundice and you’re unsure whether to proceed with your session, reach out.
I am always happy to talk through your concerns and help you decide what makes the most sense for your family and your baby’s unique situation.
Because in these early newborn days, there is already so much to think about.
Worrying about photographs shouldn’t be one of them.
Take care of your sweet little one, soak in the snuggles, and know that together we’ll create beautiful memories—whether that’s on your original session date or a little later when your baby is ready.
