Patient's question:
Detailed medical condition and consultation purpose: It has been over 30 days, and the jaundice on the face has not subsided yet. What should I do now? Does it affect the child's health? After consulting a doctor, the doctor recommended stopping breastfeeding for 3 days. Is it necessary?Doctor's answer:
Hello! First, it's important to determine whether the baby's jaundice is pathological or breast milk jaundice before treating it accordingly. Physiological jaundice typically appears within 2-3 days after birth, peaks on the 4th or 5th day, and resolves on its own within half a month.Pathological jaundice occurs if:
- Jaundice appears within 24 hours after birth;
- Jaundice persists for more than half a month without fading;
- The skin appears deeply yellow, even the soles of the feet are noticeably discolored;
- Jaundice reappears after resolving;
- No jaundice is observed at birth, but it appears after half a month.
If any of these issues occur, it is pathological jaundice.
There is also a special type of jaundice called breast milk jaundice. If it is breast milk jaundice, you can temporarily stop breastfeeding and resume it after the baby's jaundice fades.
Pathological jaundice should be taken seriously because it often indicates an underlying illness, and the cause must be identified. Additionally, when unconjugated bilirubin levels reach a certain threshold, they can cross the blood-brain barrier, damaging brain cells (often referred to as kernicterus), which may lead to death or long-term consequences such as cerebral palsy or intellectual disabilities. Therefore, if pathological jaundice is suspected, seek medical attention immediately.
It is recommended that you follow the guidance of your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.