What is Jaundice and Bilirubin in Newborns? The NICU Doc explains!

Jaundice and elevated bilirubin in newborns, also called hyperbilirubinemia, is one of the most common reasons for admission to the NICU. Learn what exactly is bilirubin and where does it come from, as well as the treatment of phototherapy or "bili lights". If you have more questions about bilirubin, please feel free to add them in the comments section. I'm real good at answering real quick. Thanks for watching!
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*Disclaimer: Although I work in an academic institution and hospital and unless otherwise stated, the videos posted are of my sole creation. Any opinions, comments, or postings are not a representation or a reflection of our institutions. **Any medical advice or topics discussed are NO substitute for your physician’s advice and care. Actions taken on advice from the videos are done so at your own risk.

[@imupstairsbaby]

Thank you, my son was born at 37 weeks two days ago and is in the tanning bed now!

[@thenicudoc]

aww. hope he's doing OK. The tanning bed..so funny 🥰

[@Dr.Snooze-gt5yg]

Your baby can get intermittent exposure to sunlight with sunglass or eye covering to help if they need some ozone filtered UV exposure. There are lights that expose you to radiation that never makes it through the ozone, but is 6 inches from your brain as electricity passes through a radioactive gas. Let nature do its work instead. Have a memory of being very hot, for what seemed like days, wondering why it was so hot under the red light, and was that what we were made for? To suffer? The heat can cause veins to rapidly multiply as the testes and eyes don't have enough blood flow to cool. You can get vernaculease. RF energy can result in permanent injury. X rays also fry the optical nerve peripheral vision loss, and constructs blood supply to a fetuses brain and shrinks umbilical cords, less oxygen to a baby's brain, snake umbilical cord: low birth weight. X rays will constrict the blood supply to each tooth, if the root dies so does the tooth. Ultrasounds cause cavitation of tissue, heading it until it turns into gas, causes neurological damage. Leonardo DaVinci and Albert Einstein came out natural geniuses, but their parents didn't hit them with Ultrasounds every month, even when their body was the size of a pebble. Why do mush mental retardation and ligature handicaps from the wing these days? Just run a radar gun or get x rays, Asp.en ain't give you a lead jacket but a plastic bib so you dint still on yourself while they x ray each tooth and run a panoramic. They icky used to do 3 if they wanted the whole mouth not 26, and they made sure you had a lead jacket that Akari covered your lower areas. Now they're going to put ultra sound chips in earbuds, starting this year 2024.

[@NurseAria]

Thank you great explanation!!!

[@thenicudoc]

You are too kind. Thank you! ☺

[@A_Painted_Life]

Thank you for your wisdom.❤🙏 God bless you.

[@thenicudoc]

You are most welcome. Thanks for your kind comment

[@Rquinn110]

Dr. Fort, Great video! I just started working for a company that works with neonatal phototherapy and this video helped me understand Jaundice in newborns greatly! Can't wait to check out your other content

[@thenicudoc]

Thank you for taking the time to give that wonderful feedback. And congratulations on your new job. Best of luck. Reach out if you have questions about bilirubin 😉😊

[@thembiq6598]

Thank you

[@thenicudoc]

Thanks for taking the time for that wonderful feedback!

[@Hanna-kl1ns]

So helpful! Can you go over hypoglycemia/tachypnea in the newborn? Newborn nurse, one day nicu nurse here ❤️

[@thenicudoc]

Ok. I'm adding it to my list. Hopefully can get to it real soon 🙏. Thanks 😊

[@satishsonwane2795]

Thnks 👍🏻

[@thenicudoc]

Glad you like!

[@mra5247]

I wonder if my brain meningioma has anything to do with my 1.3 H bilirubin latest bloodwork results

[@amigurumi_loverph5354]

I'm watching this video because my 5 day old baby boy is in phototherapy at the moment. He was admitted at day 3. I'm just worried, how long does phototherapy normally take? Thank you so much!

[@thenicudoc]

I'm sorry you are living through this. Phototherapy helps bring down bilirubin. The length depends on the levels and what Is actually causing the elevation. Most babies just need it for a few days...but occasionally we need a procedure to get the level down. Best of luck...hopefully you don't need it for to long 🙏

[@wahmfarad2719]

Dear Sir Your way of explaining is marvelous, from your video my confusion is cleared now , but kindly please tell me that from where you read this text that ( when RBCs/Erythrocytes disintegrates/ ruptures / splits then hemoglobins hemoglobins will be comes out from Erythrocytes) I mean say that please sheer book name / website address because I want reference because from your video my half work is done but half will be done after attain reference . Regards wahm farad

[@thenicudoc]

Umm..great question. I studied this in medical school, residency, and fellowship...so many books...but if you need a reference. You can find these topics in "Fetal and Neonatal Physiology" Polin/ Fox or "Diseases of the Fetus and Infant... Fanaroff and Martin.

[@wahmfarad2719]

Thanks sir for respond me ..

[@wahmfarad2719]

sir if possible kindly can you please mention specific topic name in which this material exist or page no, actually right after your reply i am trying to find this book on net ( fetal and neonatal physiology by polin/fox ) but book has different additions and these are not open access book but i will try further , because specific topic name or page no, will makes this easy

[@lovelydianna5930]

Will laying the baby in its bassinet with no clothes on next to a window to allow the sunshine to flow over the baby's skin.... be as good as the photolight?

[@thenicudoc]

Thanks for the question. No, not at all...the wavelength that changes the molecule of bilirubin so you can excrete it is blue light and it needs to be done at the right intensity. This is measured every time a baby is put on phototherapy. You have no idea what photo intensity you are getting from light coming in through the window and it can further cause damage to the skin of a baby who is not protected.

[@lovelydianna5930]

@@thenicudoc Thank you for explaining that. ❤️

[@finalcut3603]

I have a 10 day old baby. His toal bilirubin level at 8 days old was 12.5. Is that high or normal? His skin and eyes do have yellow tint but our local pediatrician assured it was quite fine and advised for sunlight exposure. However I'm still concerned.

[@thenicudoc]

I'm sorry but I cannot comment on individual casesbon social media. But glad you are being followed by your pediatrician. I will say though...PLEASE PLEASE do NOT expose your child to sunlight. Infants less than 1 year should not receive sunlight directly as this increases the risk for skin cancer later in life.

[@c4production498]

Is it normal for a baby to have a high bilirubin & come down from it after phototherapy & then test high for it again?

[@thenicudoc]

Yes...it often happens...especially during the first week. However, it should not elevate dramatically (1-2 points). If going up rapidly, it is important to consider something else.

[@meghanarudra96]

My son was born at 37 week 1 day his billurubin indirect level is 1.26 i think its normal or what please tell me

[@thenicudoc]

I cannot give individual patient advice on social media.. sorry. Too many variables and I do not know your little one's history. Please ask your pediatrician. I know you understand. thank you.

[@kramcarandang8217]

My baby is almost 3 months now and has a 0.759 mg/dl direct bilirubin and it is way too high. Based on your explanation, i am so worried right now.

[@thenicudoc]

I can't speak to individual cases on social media. However, direct of less than one within the first few months would not be considered TOO high. If you have any concerns, please discuss with your pediatrician though.

[@kramcarandang8217]

@@thenicudoc we went to pedia that day and he said my baby will be fine, just gave us vitamins. Thank you anyway. 😊

[@Vlynlow09]

@@kramcarandang8217 hello! My baby has 0.41 direct bilirubin, gonna do ultrascan , scares me to death now as my PD claim May due to gallbladder. How did urs go??

[@mohitzaru83]

Hello doctor. My baby is 5 days old. His jaundice level is 25.5. He is put of phototherapy. I hope jaundice has not affected his brain. What are your views in such cases ?

[@thenicudoc]

I can't speak directly about your baby on social media. There are so many variables that I do not know. The level is relative to gestational age, number of days at time of sample, ABO status, infection, maternal diagnoses etc. Can a baby with 25 do well...YES...but it can also have some neurodevelopmental deficits depending on some variables I mentioned. Please please I hope that bilirubin is being treated though. If not..for any baby with that level...it would be recommended to have an urgent visit to the emergency room

[@shierachoy6652]

hows your baby now?

[@mohitzaru83]

@Shiera Choy he is doing fine, doctor. Thank you for checking. All the tests are normal.

[@KGFGAMER-bi2wv]

@@mohitzaru83 apke baby ki age kitni h Or apne uska 🩸blood change kraya tha kya

[@peterebane6247]

At what point can we be worried about the level of bilirubin? Baby was very active when born but later was tested and realized child and mother have different bills group and she has been breastfeeding him. Baby is one month old and was tested for bilirubin level was 11.5

[@thenicudoc]

Forgive me but I cannot give medical advice on social media. There are too many variables that I would need to know to give an accurate answer...details I cannot know as I am not your physician. Please understand but also make sure you do all these important questions to your pediatrician. Happy to answer general questions. Best of luck

[@yudithmlopez]

My baby is 8 days old and has a 18.3 level is that bad?

[@thenicudoc]

Forgive me but I cannot give medical advice on an individual level on social media. That number by itself doesn't help...there are too many variables and by rules...I cannot get them on social media. Please please discuss with your medical team. Best of luck

[@Vlynlow09]

Hi doc, my baby 1.5months has 0.41 direct bilirubin level. Is it dangerous??

[@thenicudoc]

Forgive me but I cannot give individual medical advice on social media. Too many unknowns that I cannot ask due to laws. Please reach out to your pediatrician for this important question

[@Vlynlow09]

@@thenicudoc thanks Doc, what is the normal level for direct & total bilirubin for infant?

[@snigdhasarkar3233]

Bby brother is 5days n his bilirubin is 40mg will he become abnormal

[@thenicudoc]

Forgive me but I cannot give individual medical advice on social media. It is imperative that you seek medical care immediately to take care of high bilirubin. Please consult your pediatrician or emergency room.

[@bishalkarki1479]

How is your baby now??

[@mbathulasikumar]

Normal bilirubin value for new baby

[@thenicudoc]

This varies by age of life and gestational age at birth. We use charts to determine this.

[@arielkaminas357]

@@thenicudoc Where can we find the chart?

[@LifeofChughs]

My baby is almost one month now and has direct value of 2.40, total of 12.60 , all screening tests were normal though she had jaundice at time of birth Extremely worried

[@thenicudoc]

Forgive me but I cannot give individual medical advice on social media. There are too many variables I don't know about your little one and legally I am unable to. Sorry. Please though, seek out a gastrienterologist that can help you with your precious little one. Hope this get resolved soon.

[@YaaAbrafi-gz1vk]

Pls my is 11 is it's normal

[@thenicudoc]

Unfortunately I can't answer that. Not only because I can't give individual medical advice but because just one number doesn't mean anything. There are too many variables I don't know to answer. Best person is your pediatrician or healthcare team. Best of luck!

[@YaaAbrafi-gz1vk]

Thanks

[@rubeenaaliza2873]

My baby's bilirubin is 10.10 if is normal?

[@thenicudoc]

I am sorry but I cannot give individual medical advice on social media. Please seek your doctor's advice immediately. Thank you

[@sharonbenson8120]

Thank you

[@thenicudoc]

I'm so glad you liked it. thx!