What is breast milk jaundice?
Breast milk jaundice is a type of jaundice that occurs in babies during
breastfeeding. This is a common condition in infants and may persist for more
than three weeks after birth and breastfeeding. This may resolve on its own
without stopping breastfeeding and may take eight to 12 weeks to resolve. About
60-80% of all newborns may have some degree of jaundice.
What does this mean?
Jaundice occurs when there is too much bilirubin in the blood. When this
happens in a child, his eyes and skin turn yellow. Bilirubin is a yellow
substance produced after the liver breaks down red blood cells. This is a
normal process. However, jaundice occurs when the liver does not break down
bilirubin quickly enough.
Usually processed bilirubin is transported to the intestine and excreted
in the feces. In jaundice, excess bilirubin is reabsorbed into the baby's
blood. It then deposits in various parts of the body, including mucous
membranes, skin, and muscles.
Breastfeeding a child with jaundice. Breastfeeding provides the baby
with calories and hydration while improving the mother's lactation. Hydration
lowers the level of bilirubin in a child's body. This means it may be helpful
for a child with jaundice. In some cases, breastfeeding may be interrupted for
12–48 hours so that breast milk jaundice can be diagnosed.
Many premature newborns will have high bilirubin levels in the first
weeks after birth. This is due to the fact that:
- Their red blood cells have a short lifespan
- In newborns, there is sometimes a delay in the passage of meconium (the first stool), so bilirubin is reabsorbed in the intestine.
- The newborn's liver is not yet fully developed to rapidly metabolize bilirubin.
- Most newborns will have physiological jaundice, which is considered harmless.
Causes of breast milk jaundice
The exact cause of breast milk jaundice is currently unknown. However,
it is thought to be caused by a substance in breast milk that prevents the
liver from breaking down bilirubin. This type of jaundice is genetic.
Your child may be more likely to get jaundice if:
- They were born prematurely.
- They don't get enough breast milk.
- They are breastfeeding.
- The baby has a different blood type than the mother.
- The baby was born with a large number of red blood cells.
- They have a genetic problem that weakens their red blood cells.
Symptoms of breast milk jaundice
The most obvious sign of jaundice is yellowing of the skin and eyes. The
yellow color will begin to appear on the face, then on the chest, abdomen and
legs. Other symptoms that may appear if bilirubin levels continue to rise
include drowsiness and eating disorders. Your child may also start acting fussy
or sloppy as the situation worsens.
The yellow coloration on your child's skin can be hard to see, especially
if they have dark skin. If you find yourself in this situation, lightly press
your finger on the child's forehead or nose. If your child has jaundice, you
will see yellow on their skin when you lift your finger.
When to see a doctor
Sometimes things can seem more serious and you may need to call your
doctor. This time includes:
- When your baby is not breastfeeding well
- When they start to look or act sick
- If the child is more sleepy than usual
- When you notice your jaundice getting worse
Diagnosis. A doctor makes
a diagnosis of jaundice after examining your child for yellowing of the skin
and eyes. They may also do a blood test to check the level of bilirubin in the
blood. The lightweight device can also be used to measure bilirubin in the
skin.
Treatment of breast milk
jaundice. As mentioned earlier, breast milk jaundice will go away on its own.
This means you do not need to seek treatment unless your child's bilirubin
levels become too high.
Treatment for breast milk jaundice also depends on:
- Age of your child
- If the baby was born prematurely
- The rate of increase in bilirubin levels
- How does your child eat?
Your child's jaundice can be treated with:
Phototherapy: This involves
placing the baby under a light that helps the bilirubin leave the body.
Fluids: Hydration helps
lower bilirubin levels.
Immunoglobulin: given intravenously to children
with blood type incompatibility, which may reduce the need for exchange
transfusions.
Exchange transfusion: this involves
replacing the baby's blood with a transfusion when the child's bilirubin levels
become too high.
There is nothing to worry about if your newborn has jaundice. The condition is easily treatable with proper treatment and monitoring. It is important to understand the best way to breastfeed, as this can help your baby recover from jaundice.