Breast milk jaundice: A well-fed baby still has jaundice and yellow eyesight

Jaundice is common in infants. In particular, breastmilk jaundice is a breastfeeding-related jaundice that usually occurs one week after the baby is born. Sometimes, it can last up to 12 weeks, but most don't cause serious complications.

Let's learn about this type of jaundice as well as how to treat the disease in the following article.

Symptoms of jaundice caused by breast milk

Breast milk jaundice is very rare, with less than 3% of babies experiencing this. The most recognizable symptom is that the child's skin and whites of the eyes turn yellow, and the baby is more fussy or fussy. If this situation persists for many weeks, the child will be tired, lethargic and slow to gain weight.

Usually, the symptoms go away on their own in a few weeks with no problems. Breast milk jaundice should be distinguished from jaundice caused by inadequate feeding. Babies with jaundice due to breastmilk are still feeding properly and getting enough breast milk . Meanwhile, jaundice caused by not getting enough milk is caused by the mother's lack of milk, the difficulty of feeding the baby or the wrong feeding.

The cause of jaundice is caused by breast milk

Jaundice occurs when a baby has a high concentration of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment produced during the breakdown of red blood cells .

Normally, bilirubin passes through the liver and is released into the intestinal tract. However, the newborn's liver is still not fully developed. Therefore, it is not possible to completely remove bilirubin. Too much bilirubin in the blood is deposited, causing the skin and eyes to turn yellow. Usually, this condition goes away on its own as the liver develops.

In addition, researchers also believe that jaundice in well-fed infants may be caused by certain substances in breast milk. These substances block certain proteins that are responsible for breaking down bilirubin in the liver. Additionally, infants are at a higher risk of developing breast milk jaundice if they have a family history of similar symptoms.

Diagnosis of jaundice in a newborn

Parents should take their children to the hospital when they see any signs of jaundice. Your doctor will determine if this symptom is caused by a more serious problem. Untreated and severe jaundice can lead to dangerous complications such as permanent brain damage or hearing loss .

During a visit, the doctor will observe how the mother breastfeeds to make sure the baby is feeding properly and getting the necessary amount of breast milk. They may then recommend that the family have the baby have a blood test to measure the amount of bilirubin in the child's blood. If the test shows that the bilirubin level in the blood is higher than normal, the baby is more likely to have jaundice caused by breast milk.

Treatment of jaundice caused by breast milk

Breast milk jaundice is only a temporary condition. Therefore, mothers continue to breastfeed as usual. Mild or moderate jaundice can be monitored at home. Your doctor will recommend that you feed your baby more often or give your baby more formula . This helps the child to get rid of bilirubin in the stool or urine .

Severe jaundice is usually treated with hospital light therapy. During the treatment, your baby will be given a special light for one to two days. Light will change the structure of bilirubin molecules, helping the body to eliminate them faster.

Infected children usually recover quickly with proper treatment and careful monitoring. This condition should go away after a week or two as the baby's liver is more mature and the milk is fed enough.

In rare cases, jaundice in newborn babies can last through 6 weeks even with treatment. This could be a sign of an underlying medical condition that requires more intensive examination and treatment.

Prevent jaundice in babies

Most cases of breast milk jaundice are not preventable. However, this is not too dangerous a problem. You should still breastfeed and stop only when your doctor tells you to. Breast milk is very important for the healthy development of your baby. It provides all the necessary nutrients and protects the baby against disease. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies breastfeed 8 to 12 times a day for the first 6 months of life.

Hopefully the recent information has helped you better understand the situation of breast milk jaundice in infants. When you see signs of jaundice, jaundice, you need to bring your child to the hospital to be examined and advised on appropriate treatment.