Bilirubin levels are higher in neonates than in adults because newborn babies have a higher concentration of red blood cells, which also have a shorter lifespan. Red blood cell breakdown creates unconjugated bilirubin which circulates mostly bound to albumin. Unconjugated bilirubin is metabolised by the liver to produce conjugated bilirubin which is excreted in the stool.1
This is a companion discussion topic for the original article at https://patient.info/doctor/neonatal-jaundice-pro