🟡 Newborn Jaundice Calculator
Assess your newborn's jaundice risk level based on bilirubin levels and age. Understand if treatment may be needed.
MEDICAL EMERGENCY WARNING
This calculator is for educational purposes ONLY. It does NOT replace medical testing and evaluation.
- ✓ NEVER rely on this calculator for medical decisions
- ✓ Jaundice in the first 24 hours is ALWAYS an emergency
- ✓ High bilirubin can cause permanent brain damage if untreated
- ✓ Contact your pediatrician immediately with concerns
🔧 Baby Information
📊 Risk Assessment
Low Intermediate Risk
💡 Phototherapy Assessment
📋 Recommendation
Monitor closely. Follow-up as scheduled with your pediatrician.
📚 Understanding Newborn Jaundice
What is Jaundice?
Yellowing of skin and eyes caused by elevated bilirubin levels. Very common in newborns.
Bilirubin Explained
A yellow pigment created when red blood cells break down. Newborn livers process it slowly.
Phototherapy
Special blue lights help break down bilirubin in the skin so it can be eliminated.
Breastfeeding
Frequent feeding (8-12 times daily) helps baby eliminate bilirubin through stool.
Peak Time
Jaundice typically peaks at 3-5 days of age in full-term babies.
Usually Harmless
Most cases resolve naturally. Severe untreated jaundice is rare but serious.
🚨 When to Call Your Doctor Immediately
Contact your pediatrician or go to the emergency room if you notice any of these signs:
Jaundice appearing in first 24 hours of life
Rapidly increasing bilirubin levels
Baby very sleepy, difficult to wake for feeds
Poor feeding or refusing to eat
High-pitched crying or extreme fussiness
Arching back or stiff, unusual movements
Fever over 100.4°F (38°C)
Jaundice spreading to arms, legs, or whites of eyes
💊 Treatment Options
Phototherapy
Special blue lights placed over baby's skin
Enhanced Feeding
Frequent breastfeeding or formula feeding
IV Fluids
Intravenous fluids if baby is dehydrated
Exchange Transfusion
Replace baby's blood with donor blood
📈 About the Bhutani Nomogram
What is the Bhutani Nomogram?
The Bhutani nomogram is a widely-used medical chart that plots a baby's bilirubin level against their age in hours. It divides babies into risk zones based on where their bilirubin level falls compared to expected ranges.
Below 40th percentile. Routine monitoring.
40th-75th percentile. Close monitoring.
75th-95th percentile. Likely needs treatment.
Above 95th percentile. Urgent treatment needed.
Why Age in Hours Matters
Bilirubin levels naturally rise in the first few days after birth as the baby's liver learns to process it. A level of 10 mg/dL at 24 hours is more concerning than the same level at 72 hours. The nomogram accounts for this expected rise.
🛡️ Preventing Severe Jaundice
🍼 Feed Frequently
- • Breastfeed 8-12 times per day
- • Start within the first hour after birth
- • Wake baby if needed to feed
- • Ensure baby is latching well
- • More feeding = more stool = more bilirubin eliminated
👁️ Monitor Closely
- • Check skin color in natural daylight daily
- • Gently press skin on forehead or nose
- • Note if yellow color is spreading
- • Track number of wet and dirty diapers
- • Attend all scheduled follow-up appointments
🩸 Know Your Blood Type
- • ABO or Rh incompatibility increases risk
- • Your doctor will monitor more closely
- • May need earlier bilirubin testing
- • Treatment thresholds may be lower
- • Inform all healthcare providers
📅 Follow-Up Care
- • First checkup within 3-5 days after birth
- • Earlier if discharged before 48 hours
- • Bilirubin testing as recommended
- • Don't skip appointments
- • Call with any concerns between visits
🔬 Types of Newborn Jaundice
Physiological Jaundice (Most Common)
Appears: After 24 hours of life, peaks at 3-5 days
Cause: Normal adjustment as baby's liver learns to process bilirubin. Affects 60% of full-term and 80% of premature babies. Usually resolves on its own within 1-2 weeks.
Breastfeeding Jaundice
Appears: First week of life
Cause: Not getting enough breast milk, leading to dehydration and fewer stools. Solved by increasing feeding frequency and ensuring good latch. Don't stop breastfeeding!
Breast Milk Jaundice
Appears: After first week, can last several weeks
Cause: Substances in breast milk that slow bilirubin processing. Baby is healthy and gaining well. Harmless and resolves without treatment. Continue breastfeeding.
⚠️ Pathological Jaundice (Serious)
Appears: Within first 24 hours of life
Causes: Blood type incompatibility (ABO/Rh), infection, bleeding, genetic conditions, liver problems. ALWAYS requires immediate medical evaluation and treatment.
❌ vs ✅ Jaundice Myths & Facts
MYTH
"Sunlight through a window will cure jaundice"
FACT
Window glass blocks UV rays needed. Medical phototherapy with special blue lights is required for treatment.
MYTH
"All jaundice is harmless and will go away on its own"
FACT
While most jaundice is harmless, severe untreated jaundice can cause kernicterus (permanent brain damage). Always monitor levels.
MYTH
"Stop breastfeeding if baby has jaundice"
FACT
Continue breastfeeding! Frequent feeding (8-12 times daily) helps eliminate bilirubin. Only stop if doctor specifically advises.
MYTH
"Jaundice always means something is seriously wrong"
FACT
Most jaundice is physiological (normal). Over half of babies develop some jaundice. It's the monitoring and treatment when needed that's important.
⚖️ Important Medical Disclaimer
This calculator is for educational purposes ONLY and is NOT a medical diagnostic tool. It provides general risk assessment based on simplified nomogram guidelines.
Critical Limitations:
- • This calculator uses simplified Bhutani nomogram curves and may not match exact clinical guidelines
- • It does NOT replace laboratory bilirubin testing and medical evaluation
- • Risk zones are approximations based on general population data
- • Individual babies may require different treatment thresholds
- • Visual assessment of jaundice is unreliable - blood tests are required
ALWAYS consult your pediatrician if:
- • Your baby develops jaundice in the first 24 hours
- • Jaundice appears to be worsening or spreading
- • Your baby is not feeding well or seems lethargic
- • You have ANY concerns about your baby's health
- • Your baby was discharged before 48 hours of age
⚠️ EMERGENCY: Jaundice appearing in the first 24 hours of life or rapidly rising bilirubin levels require IMMEDIATE medical attention. Go to the emergency room or call 911.
This calculator is based on American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines and Bhutani nomogram principles, but is simplified for educational use and should not be used for clinical decision-making.