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Breast Feeding And Jaundice

Jaundice is a result of buildup in the blood of thebilirubin, a yellow pigment that comes from thebreakdown of older red blood cells. It's normalfor the red blood cells to break down, althoughthe bilirubin formed doesn't normally cause jaundicebecause the liver will metabolize it and then getrid of it in the gut.

However, the newborn baby will often becomejaundiced during the first few days due to theliver enzyme that metabolizes the bilirubin becomingrelatively immature. Therefore, newborn babies will have more red blood cells than adults, andthus more will break down at any given time.

Breast milk jaundiceThere is a condition that's commonly referred to as breast milk jaundice, although no one knowswhat actually causes it. In order to diagnose it,the baby should be at least a week old. The babyshould also be gaining well with breast feedingalone, having lots of bowel movements with thepassing of clean urine.

In this type of setting, the baby has what is referred to as breast milk jaundice. On occasion,infections of the urine or an under functioningof the baby's thyroid gland, as well as otherrare illnesses that may cause the same types ofproblems.

Breast milk jaundice will peak at 10 - 21 days,although it can last for 2 - 3 months. Contraryto what you may think, breast milk jaundice isnormal. Rarely, if at all ever, does breastfeeding need to be stopped for even a briefperiod of time.

If the baby is doing well on breast milk, there is no reason at all to stop or supplement witha lactation aid.

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