What to do about breast milk jaundice
Disease description:
The baby was born a few days ago, and after I breastfed him, I noticed his face looked yellowish. A friend mentioned this might be breast milk jaundice. I would like to know what I should do in this situation.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhang Lu
Breast milk jaundice is a common physiological phenomenon in the neonatal period, mainly caused by breastfeeding. It usually begins to appear on the 3rd to 4th day after birth, peaks on the 7th to 10th day, and then gradually subsides.
For breast milk jaundice, if the infant gains weight normally, is active and alert, and has normal frequency of urination and defecation, special treatment is generally not required. It is important to ensure adequate breastfeeding, as frequent and effective sucking can promote intestinal motility and accelerate bilirubin excretion. Mothers are advised to breastfeed on demand, more than 8 times per day, ensuring the infant adequately consumes breast milk, especially during nighttime feedings, to stimulate increased milk production.
In addition, appropriate exposure of the newborn to gentle sunlight may help accelerate bilirubin metabolism and excretion. However, care should be taken to control the duration and intensity of light exposure to avoid skin damage. In daily life, it is important to ensure the newborn receives sufficient nutrition and hydration to promote bilirubin metabolism and excretion.
Close observation of the newborn's symptoms is recommended. If jaundice persists without improvement or other discomfort symptoms appear, timely medical attention is advised.
