Bilirubin is a waste product of red blood cells (RBCs). In newborns, the production and breakdown of RBCs occurs much faster than adults.

The liver is responsible for breaking down the bilirubin, but sometimes it does not keep up with the rapid cell turnover. This process can cause a buildup of bilirubin in the blood, called hyperbilirubinemia.

Typical signs and symptoms include jaundice, which is the yellowing of the skin and the sclera (whites of eyes).

Normally, newborns are routinely screened for jaundice after they are born.

Your baby will spend a night or two in the hospital receiving phototherapy treatment. This treatment is simply light therapy to help lower your baby's bilirubin levels

Normally standing over a baby bassinet, these lights often look blue/purple and it is imperative that your baby is exposing as much skin as possible to the lights.

Typically, your newborn will not be able to wear clothes or be covered with a blanket, but can wear a diaper. Their eyes will be covered with soft goggles that will wrap around your child's head to protect their eyes from the light.

Generally, you can expect your nurse to periodically check your baby's vital signs as well as perform a head to toe assessment.

Your nurse will also adjust the phototherapy lights as needed so that your baby is receiving the correct amount of light.

Your nurse may also draw blood from your newborn to send off to the lab and check bilirubin levels. They may do this via a heelstick.

• • It is important to note that there are different levels of acceptable bilirubin levels based off your baby's age in hours. So, if your baby's bilirubin has slightly increased, but they are 12 hours older, it is possible that your baby is in an acceptable range, and can be discharged to home later. This is up to the provider's discretion.

What is most important in caring for a baby with hyperbilirubinemia is ensuring they are feeding well and having wet diapers.

Bilirubin is excreted in the feces, so staying on top of your baby's feeds will promote them to have more frequent bowel movements. This will continue to lower their bilirubin levels.

It is generally okay to remove your baby from the bassinet for a short period to feed them. If your hospital employs a bili blanket, make sure you hold your baby in the bili blanket while you feed.

It is okay for your baby to suck on a pacifier or feed on a bottle when in the bassinet.

Once your baby's bilirubin levels are in an appropirate range, your provider may be able to send you home, given there are no other issues they are monitoring for.

After your hospital stay, it is important to continue maintaining a feeding schedule with your baby to continue to excrete bilirubin from the body

Look out for jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin) in your baby's first 1-2 weeks of life