Patient's question:
My child has been jaundiced since birth, and it's still there at eighteen days. After the doctor's advice, I stopped breastfeeding for three days, and it was confirmed to be breast milk jaundice. However, he is in good spirits, has good bowel movements, and eats well. I would like to ask, is it okay to continue breastfeeding with breast milk jaundice?Doctor's answer:
Breast milk jaundice is quite common now. There are two types of breast milk jaundice: early-onset and late-onset. Early-onset breast milk jaundice is mainly similar to the physiological jaundice period of newborn babies. It appears around 3 days and can subside around 7 days. Late-onset breast milk jaundice often appears after the physiological jaundice has subsided, typically reappearing 7-14 days later. Once jaundice reappears, it is judged based on the severity of the baby's jaundice. If the baby's jaundice is severe, such as reaching hyperbilirubinemia with high blood viscosity, breastfeeding can be paused for 3 days for observation. If the jaundice significantly subsides after pausing breastfeeding for 3 days, it proves that it is related to breastfeeding. In that case, breastfeeding can be resumed. Continuing to breastfeed may cause a slight rebound in jaundice, but there is no need to worry. Breast milk jaundice will gradually subside.