What is the Normal Level of Bilirubin in Babies? Here’s How to Check It, Parents

What are normal bilirubin levels in babies?

If your child has just been born, there is a possibility that he/she will experience jaundice orNeonatal Jaundice.

Jaundicevery often found in newborns. This condition occurs when the baby has high levels of bilirubin.

Jaundice in babies is actually a normal condition. It even occurs in 60 percent of healthy babies.

Although there is no need to panic, parents must still observe the baby’s condition.

So, here are the explanations and facts that you should know.Parentsabout bilirubin. Let’s take a look first.

What is Bilirubin? 

Quoting fromCleveland Clinic, jaundice in newborns is a condition in which the baby’s body is yellow due to high bilirubin levels.

Jaundice occurs when bilirubin builds up in a baby’s blood. Hyperbilirubinemia is the medical term for this condition.

Meanwhile, bilirubin itself is a yellow substance created by the body when red blood cells are damaged.

When you are pregnant, your liver releases bilirubin for your baby.

But after birth, the baby’s liver must begin to excrete its own bilirubin. 

If your little one’s liver is not developed enough, he or she may not be able to get rid of bilirubin.

Then when this excess bilirubin accumulates, the baby’s skin will appear more yellow.

Jaundice in babies is actually common. However, it is usually not serious and will go away in a few weeks.

However, it is important for your baby’s healthcare provider to check them for jaundice.

Severe jaundice can cause brain damage if left untreated.

What is the Normal Bilirubin Level in Babies?

In older children or adults, the normal value of direct bilirubin is from 0-0.4 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).

The normal value of total bilirubin is 0.3-1.0 mg/dL.

The level of indirect bilirubin in the bloodstream is the total bilirubin minus the level of direct bilirubin in the bloodstream.

Additionally, normal reference ranges may vary from lab to lab.

In newborns, higher bilirubin is normal due to the stress of birth.

Normal indirect bilirubin will be below 5.2 mg/dL in the first 24 hours of birth. 

But many newborns have some type of jaundice and bilirubin levels that rise above 5 mg/dL in the first few days after birth.

How to Test Bilirubin Levels?

A bilirubin test is performed to measure the amount of bilirubin in your little one’s bloodstream.

Not only to detect jaundice, this test is used to help find the cause of other health conditions anemia , and liver disease.

Bilirubin is an orange-yellow pigment that occurs normally when parts of your little one’s red blood cells break down.

The liver takes bilirubin from the blood and changes its chemical composition so that most of it passes through the feces as bile.

If your little one’s bilirubin levels are higher than normal, it’s a sign that their red blood cells are breaking down at an unusual rate or that their liver isn’t properly breaking down waste and clearing bilirubin from their blood.

Another option is that there is a problem somewhere else in the body along the pathway that removes bilirubin from the liver and into your little one’s stool .

Quoting fromWebMD, a nurse or lab technician will draw blood through a small needle inserted into a vein in the baby’s arm.

Blood is collected in a tube. In newborns, blood is usually drawn using a needle to break the heel skin.

Then the doctor will send the blood to the laboratory for analysis.

Before the test, tell your doctor how active your child is and what foods and medications you are taking. Certain medications can change your child’s results.

After the test, your little one will be able to immediately resume normal activities as usual.

What Causes High Bilirubin Levels?

A bilirubin test will measure the total amount of bilirubin in the body.

It can also provide levels of two different types of bilirubin: unconjugated and conjugated.

Unconjugated (“indirect”) bilirubin . This is bilirubin made from the breakdown of red blood cells. It travels in the blood to the liver.

Conjugated (“direct”) bilirubin . This is bilirubin after it has reached the liver and undergone chemical changes. It travels to the intestines before being excreted in your little one’s stool.

For adults over 18 years of age, normal total bilirubin can reach 1.2 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) of blood.

For those under 18 years of age, the normal level is 1 mg/dL. Normal results for conjugated (direct) bilirubin should be less than 0.3 mg/dL.

Men tend to have slightly higher bilirubin levels than women.

African-Americans tend to have lower bilirubin levels than people of other races.

High total bilirubin can be caused by:

Anemia Cirrhosis Reaction to blood transfusion Gilbert’s syndrome – a common inherited condition where there is a deficiency of an enzyme that helps break down bilirubin. Hepatitis virus Reaction to medication Alcoholic liver disease Gallstones What Causes Low Bilirubin Levels?

Lower than normal bilirubin levels are not a problem.

In newborns, high bilirubin levels that do not decrease within a few days to 2 weeks may be a sign of:

Blood type incompatibility between mother and child Lack of oxygen Inherited infection Diseases that affect the liver Facts About Bilirubin, The Cause of Jaundice in Babies 1. Yellow (Jaundice) in Newborns Caused by High Bilirubin

In older babies and adults, the liver will process the bilirubin.

However, a newborn’s liver is still developing and cannot process it properly.

Babies at high risk of developingjaundiceis a baby with the following conditions:

Premature babies are babies born before 37 weeks of gestation. Not getting enough milk intake, either formula or breast milk Babies with blood types that are incompatible with their mother’s blood type

Apart from bilirubin, the cause of this isjaundiceHigh levels can also be due to infection, enzyme deficiency, liver problems, and abnormalities in the baby’s red blood cells.

In most cases,jaundicewill heal on its own as the baby’s liver develops.

Usually jaundice in babies disappears within two to three weeks.

Too much bilirubin in babies can cause deafness,cerebral palsy, and other brain damage.

Jaundicein newborns that occurs for more than 3 weeks can be a sign or symptom of a serious illness.

2. Fact: Adults Can Also Experience Increased Bilirubin

Not only babies, increased bilirubin can occur in adults.

Normal bilirubin levels in adults are around 0.2 to 1.2mg/dL.

If the increase in bilirubin is more than 2mg/dL, it may indicate a certain disease.

Increased bilirubin levels can occur due to certain diseases, for example:

liver disorder gallbladder disease red blood cell damage side effects of the drugs consumed.

After knowing the complete information about bilirubin above, hopefully you can…Parentsno need to panic anymore, okay.

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Jaundice in Newborns
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22263-jaundice-in-newborns 

Bilirubin Blood Test
https://www.healthline.com/health/bilirubin-blood 

Bilirubin test
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/bilirubin/about/pac-20393041 

What Is a Bilirubin Test?
https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/bilirubin-test 

Republished with permission from theAsianParent Indonesia