With adoption of phototherapy systems like the Skylife Neonatal Phototherapy System, which have best in class spectral power, I anticipate that my newborn medicine colleagues and I will spend less time having to do phototherapy “troubleshooting,” and appreciate a significant reduction on our jaundiced patients’ hospital lengths of stay.

It’s entirely possible that, in the future, newborns with jaundice may only need treated with a few hours of intensive phototherapy every day to decrease their bilirubin levels. In the meantime, phototherapy devices such as the NeoLight Skylife System can be used to provide cycled phototherapy that promotes mother-infant bonding and breastfeeding both in the hospital and home settings.

Breastfeeding jaundice can be prevented with early skin-to-skin contact after birth, breastfeeding frequently and on demand, getting timely help with breastfeeding problems, and supplementation, if medically indicated. Phototherapy treatment should not interfere with breastfeeding, especially if a product like NeoLight’s Skylife system is used.

In conclusion, breastmilk jaundice is common, occurs in healthy breastfeeding newborns, and usually resolves on its own. If you are breastfeeding and your baby develops jaundice, please know this is not your “fault,” there is nothing wrong with your breastmilk, and you should not feel like you must stop breastfeeding. Even if your baby needs to have phototherapy, I can assure you that he or she will be okay!

Phototherapy with previously existing devices has an average treatment time of 48 hours. A reduction in treatment time would reduce operational costs and allow a hospital to care for additional patients in the same time period. Furthermore, babies would be discharged earlier, which could improve overall patient satisfaction.

With total bilirubin levels a major driver for the treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, hospitals must improve the current diagnostic system through harmonization of assays to reduce the variability of measurements, reduce times to treatment, and improve patient outcomes.

Unlike solutions currently available, such as foam mattresses which have been designed for adults and do not cater to the requirements of a neonate, the Skylife GelMat has been designed by working closely with NICUs.

In conclusion, the efficacy of phototherapy in neonates can be increased to quickly reduce the risk posed by bilirubin neurotoxicity by increasing their body surface coverage and treatment light intensity from an appropriate light source with specified peak wavelength and bandwidth according AAP & FDA norms.

The prime reason for improving accessibility in the NICU is to promote patient and staff safety, quality of care, and to reduce stress on clinical staff and families. The use of bulky, inefficient technologies must be addressed to achieve increased patient accessibility. The use of smaller, compact, versatile phototherapy devices will significantly contribute to reducing equipment overcrowding within the NICU environment. Smart design of these devices will also broaden the use cases for phototherapy in the hospital as well as in the home environment.

The immediate availability of accurate bilirubin values can create better efficiency in jaundice management by facilitating more timely intervention for neonates with jaundice — avoiding preventable complications from hyperbilirubinemia, eliminating unnecessary treatment costs, and reducing readmissions.