There is a condition some doctors call “breast milk jaundice” in which it implies that a mother’s breast milk can cause jaundice. If you are just joining us, you might want to review the definition of jaundice, which is the build up of bilrubin in your baby’s blood causing a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes. Today, we take a look at what breast milk jaundice is and how to treat it.

Breastfeeding and Jaundice

There are some doctors who believe that there is something they have not yet found in mother’s milk that causes higher levels of bilrubin to stay in the blood that causes jaundice and have termed that type of jaundice as “breast milk jaundice”. Breast milk jaundice is usually diagnosed after the first week of life and can last up to 2-3 months, but mostly peaks at 10-21 days.

Although some pediatricians will call your baby’s jaundice “breast milk jaundice”, there hasn’t been any proof that it really exists, but just a theory. Even the thought that something is “bad” in your breast milk can cause many moms to doubt themselves, but please remember breastfeeding is natural and it is highly unlikely you or your milk are causing any problems. Of course, I’m not a doctor, so take Dr. Sears’ advice on the subject, too.

Breast milk jaundice remedies

The important thing about jaundice is to decrease the amount of bilrubin in your baby’s blood. The best way to do that is to encourage a lot of urination and elimination. That is one reason why breastfeeding more often rather than less can be a good remedy to breast milk jaundice. When your baby is not getting enough milk, she won’t be having enough wet or dirty diapers. It may be a good idea to track the number of diapers each day, which is the best indicator of whether she is getting enough.

Work with your pediatrician on the course of action to remedy the jaundice as some higher levels of bilrubin require phototherapy lights. If your pediatrician recommends formula supplements, you probably want to work with a lactation consultant on alternative feeding methods to avoid nipple confusion. You can also pump so you have expressed breast milk to feed your baby. Keeping track of pumping sessions will help you find a pattern as to the best time to pump during the day and help you keep track of your supply, especially at different times per day. When I was pumping I’d always get most in the morning and very little around dinnertime. This is true for many mothers.

Worry can affect your milk supply, so try not to let the diagnosis of breast milk jaundice get you down. In most cases, it’s nothing to worry about. If your supply is suffering, you may be interested in ways to increase your milk supply.

Sources:
Kelly Mom
Dr. Sears