Jaundice is a common condition affecting newborns, with over 60% of term infants and 80% of preterm infants developing visible jaundice in the first week of life. While often benign, it is essential to distinguish physiological jaundice from more serious causes of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia to ensure appropriate care. 

This module will take you through the physiology of neonatal jaundice which we recommend is followed by accessing the module 'Neonatal jaundice: practice points', which will help with application of learning to clinical practice.

Learning objectives:

This module will help you to:

• explain the normal physiology of bilirubin metabolism
• identify risk factors for neonatal jaundice
• understand potential complications for babies with a high level of red blood cells
• monitor bilirubin levels and escalate appropriately

Study time: 30 minutes

This module aligns with the following NMC Standards of proficiency for midwives:

Domain 4: Additional care for women and newborn infants with complications

Domain 6: The midwife as skilled practitioner

Published: 2024