Question

What are the normal standards for bilirubin levels in newborns after they receive jaundice phototherapy?

Answer

After neonatal jaundice phototherapy, full-term infants’ bilirubin levels should not exceed 204 micromoles/liter (12 mg/dL), and preterm infants should not exceed 255 micromoles/liter (15 mg/dL) to be considered normal. Additionally, infants with physiological jaundice, besides having yellow skin, usually have no significant impact on appetite and mental state. In most cases, symptoms will automatically subside within a month. Stopping breastfeeding and switching to artificial feeding, while encouraging the baby to drink more water and expose themselves to more sunlight, can help accelerate the decline of bilirubin levels.