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Neonatal Jaundice
A yellow tinge on your newborn's skin or eyes can be one of the most alarming things a new parent faces - yet neonatal jaundice is also one of the most common and treatable conditions in newborns. It occurs when bilirubin levels in newborns rise faster than the immature liver can process them. At Shree Hospitals, our experienced neonatology team provides round-the-clock Neonatal Jaundice treatment in Mumbai, India - from bedside bilirubin monitoring to advanced NICU jaundice care - ensuring every newborn receives prompt, safe, and effective treatment from the very first hours of life.
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Our Approach
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Our Approach to Managing Neonatal Jaundice
Monitor closely. Treat promptly. Send every baby home healthy.
Neonatal jaundice affects nearly 60% of full-term newborns and up to 80% of premature babies in the first week of life. In most cases it is physiological - a temporary and self-resolving rise in bilirubin levels in newborns as the body transitions from foetal to independent circulation. But in a subset of cases, bilirubin rises to dangerous levels, risking brain damage - a condition called kernicterus - if not identified and treated swiftly.
At Shree Hospitals, we take no chances with newborn health. Our approach to newborn jaundice diagnosis and phototherapy care in Mumbai combines continuous clinical monitoring with objective bilirubin measurement, ensuring treatment begins at the right threshold - not too early to be unnecessary, and never too late to be unsafe.
- Early & Continuous Bilirubin Monitoring
- Transcutaneous bilirubinometry (TcB) - non-invasive skin-based bilirubin screening at the bedside
- Serum Total Serum Bilirubin (TSB) testing at defined intervals based on the baby's age in hours and risk factors
- Hour-specific bilirubin nomograms used to determine treatment thresholds accurately
- Monitoring of bilirubin levels in newborns extended beyond discharge through outpatient follow-up for at-risk babies
- Identification of pathological jaundice triggers - ABO or Rh incompatibility, G6PD deficiency, sepsis, and hypothyroidism
- Risk Stratification at Birth
Not all jaundice is equal. Our neonatology team identifies high-risk newborns from the outset:
- Prematurity below 35 weeks gestation - immature liver with significantly reduced bilirubin conjugation capacity
- Blood group incompatibility between mother and baby causing haemolytic jaundice
- Sibling history of neonatal jaundice requiring treatment
- Exclusive breastfeeding in the first days - associated with relative caloric insufficiency and delayed bilirubin clearance
- Visible jaundice within the first 24 hours of life - always pathological and requiring immediate neonatal hyperbilirubinemia management and monitoring
- Phototherapy - Safe, Effective, Gold Standard
Phototherapy for babies remains the primary treatment for elevated bilirubin and is initiated based on AAP/NNF threshold charts:
- Conventional phototherapy using high-intensity blue-spectrum LED lights positioned above and below the baby
- Intensive double-surface phototherapy for rapidly rising or high bilirubin levels in our NICU jaundice care unit
- Fibre-optic biliblanket phototherapy - allows the baby to be held and fed during treatment, reducing parental distress
- Continuous skin and eye protection protocols maintained throughout phototherapy sessions
- Bilirubin levels rechecked every 4–6 hours during active phototherapy to track treatment response.
- Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) for Haemolytic Jaundice
In cases of significant ABO or Rh incompatibility causing rapid haemolysis:
- IVIG infusion to reduce antibody-mediated red blood cell destruction and slow bilirubin rise
- Particularly effective in reducing the need for exchange transfusion in haemolytic disease of the newborn
- Administered under close monitoring in our NICU jaundice care facility with continuous haemodynamic assessment
- Exchange Transfusion for Severe Cases
When bilirubin reaches critical levels despite intensive phototherapy:
- Double-volume exchange transfusion performed in our NICU by experienced neonatologists
- Replaces the baby's bilirubin-loaded and antibody-coated red cells with compatible donor blood
- Reserved for cases at risk of kernicterus - acute bilirubin encephalopathy causing irreversible brain damage
- Post-transfusion monitoring continued for a minimum of 24 hours before phototherapy is resumed
- Breastfeeding Support & Parental Guidance
Feeding plays a direct role in bilirubin clearance - and parental anxiety around jaundice treatment is real:
- Dedicated lactation counsellor support to optimise breastfeeding frequency and latch during Neonatal Jaundice treatment in Mumbai, India
- Guidance on supplemental feeding when clinically indicated to support bilirubin excretion
- Clear discharge criteria and structured outpatient bilirubin follow-up plan for every treated baby
- Parent education on warning signs of worsening jaundice after discharge
Happy Patients & Their Case Stories
A breastfed baby boy born at 37 weeks developed visible jaundice on day two. His bilirubin levels in newborns were rising rapidly. Admitted to our unit, he received intensive phototherapy and was discharged healthy on day four - his mother confident and well-supported.
Mr Kishan . P
A premature baby at 33 weeks spent 12 days in our NICU jaundice care unit receiving phototherapy alongside respiratory support. Today at 18 months, she is meeting every developmental milestone on schedule.
Mr. dev .L
How to Identify Neonatal Jaundice?
New parents are often the first to notice the signs of jaundice - and knowing what to look for, and when to be concerned, can make a critical difference in how quickly treatment begins:
- Yellow discolouration of the skin - beginning at the face and forehead, spreading downward to the chest, abdomen, and limbs as bilirubin levels in newborns rise
- Yellowing of the whites of the eyes (scleral icterus) - a reliable visible indicator even in darker-skinned babies where skin yellowing may be harder to detect
- Poor feeding or weak sucking - a baby with rising bilirubin often becomes increasingly sleepy and difficult to rouse for feeds
- Excessive sleepiness or difficulty waking - a key warning sign of significantly elevated bilirubin approaching neurological risk thresholds
- High-pitched cry - an abnormal cry pattern that can indicate early bilirubin-related neurological involvement
- Dark yellow or orange urine combined with pale or clay-coloured stools - suggests cholestatic jaundice requiring urgent specialist evaluation
- Jaundice appearing within the first 24 hours of life - always abnormal, always requiring immediate investigation for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia management and monitoring
Check your baby's skin colour in good natural light - press gently on the forehead or nose and look at the colour of the skin as it blanches. If yellow, seek medical review the same day. For Neonatal Jaundice treatment in Mumbai, India, our neonatal team is available around the clock.
Important FAQs - Neonatal Jaundice
Is neonatal jaundice normal or dangerous?
Physiological jaundice - appearing after 24 hours and peaking by day 3 to 5 - is common and usually resolves without treatment. Pathological jaundice appearing within the first 24 hours, or with rapidly rising bilirubin levels in newborns, requires immediate evaluation and treatment to prevent neurological damage.
How long does phototherapy for babies take to work?
Most babies respond to phototherapy for babies within 24 to 48 hours, with bilirubin levels falling by 1 to 2 mg/dL per hour of effective treatment. The duration depends on the starting bilirubin level, the baby's gestational age, and the underlying cause.
Can I continue breastfeeding during phototherapy?
Yes - and we actively encourage it. Feeding breaks are taken every 2 to 3 hours during NICU jaundice care to maintain feeding frequency. Interrupting breastfeeding is rarely necessary and may worsen jaundice in the longer term by reducing caloric intake and bilirubin excretion.
What happens if neonatal jaundice is left untreated?
Untreated severe jaundice can lead to kernicterus - a form of brain damage caused by bilirubin deposits in brain tissue - resulting in hearing loss, cerebral palsy, and developmental delay. Early neonatal hyperbilirubinemia management and monitoring prevents this entirely in the vast majority of cases.
When should I bring my jaundiced baby to hospital immediately?
Seek emergency care if your baby is jaundiced within 24 hours of birth, has yellow discolouration reaching the legs or feet, is excessively sleepy and difficult to wake, or has a high-pitched cry. For Neonatal Jaundice treatment in Mumbai, India, our neonatal emergency team is available around the clock.
Treatments for Neonatal Jaundice at Shree Hospitals
Treatment is individualised based on the baby's gestational age, chronological age in hours, bilirubin level, rate of rise, and underlying cause. Our neonatologists follow evidence-based thresholds and never apply a one-size-fits-all approach to a newborn's care.
Enhanced Feeding Support
For mild physiological jaundice, optimising feeding frequency is the first intervention. Frequent breastfeeding - 8 to 12 times per day - accelerates meconium passage and bilirubin excretion. Our lactation team provides hands-on support as part of Neonatal Jaundice treatment in Mumbai, India to ensure every mother can feed effectively.
Conventional Phototherapy
High-intensity blue-spectrum phototherapy for babies converts unconjugated bilirubin in the skin into water-soluble isomers that can be excreted without liver conjugation. Initiated at defined thresholds, it is safe, painless, and highly effective for the majority of jaundiced newborns.
Intensive Double-Surface Phototherapy
For rapidly rising bilirubin levels in newborns or those approaching exchange transfusion levels, intensive phototherapy using lights above and below simultaneously maximises bilirubin breakdown. Delivered in our NICU jaundice care unit with continuous monitoring and four-hourly bilirubin rechecks.
Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG)
For haemolytic jaundice caused by blood group incompatibility, IVIG reduces antibody-driven red cell destruction - lowering bilirubin rise rate and frequently avoiding the need for exchange transfusion as part of newborn jaundice diagnosis and phototherapy care in Mumbai.
Top Paediatric Specialists In Mumbai
Dr. Shruti Ghatalia
Paediatricians
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