Bilirubin is a pigment in blood that causes neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, jaundice, in newborns.  This happens when the red blood cells break down.  The pigment is orange-yellow, and excessive levels can cause the skin and/or eyes to appear yellowed, this is referred to as jaundice.  Normally the liver removes the bilirubin from your baby’s blood and excretes it through the initial stools, or meconium.  High bilirubin levels can be caused by two key things: blood breaking down at a faster than normal rate or by a liver that isn’t functioning properly.  High bilirubin levels in adults can be a sign of cirrhosis, hepatitis, gallstones, or sickle cell disease…