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 4-5th day, and resolves on its own within half a month.However, if jaundice appears within 24 hours after birth; if jaundice persists for more than half a month without improvement; if the skin appears deeply yellow, even the soles of the feet are noticeably discolored; if jaundice reappears after resolving physiologically; or if jaundice does not develop at birth but appears after half a month—these conditions indicate 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 subsides.
Pathological jaundice should be taken seriously because it often indicates an underlying disease and requires identifying the cause. Additionally, when unconjugated bilirubin levels reach a certain threshold, they can cross the blood-brain barrier and damage brain cells (often referred to as kernicterus), leading to death or sequelae such as cerebral palsy or intellectual disabilities. Therefore, if pathological jaundice is suspected in a child, seek medical attention immediately.
It is recommended that you follow the guidance of a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.