Breast milk jaundice: what it is and how it is treated
Jaundice can also be caused by breast milk, although it should not be confused with breastfeeding jaundice. Although it may scare at first, the key is to continue offering the baby's breast to remove excess bilirubin.
Jaundice, a condition that causes yellowing of the skin and eyes, is an extremely common condition among newborns. Not surprisingly, it is estimated that about 60 percent of babies usually present it in the days immediately after birth. And, in most cases, it occurs when babies have an elevated level of bilirubin in the blood, a yellow pigment that occurs naturally as a result of the breakdown of red blood cells.
Normally, in more or less normal conditions, bilirubin tends to pass through the liver, and then be released into the intestinal tract for later elimination through feces. However, it is very common that, in newborns, the liver is not yet fully mature, so it is most likely that it is not entirely capable of removing excess bilirubin present in the blood.
Therefore, when there is too much bilirubin in the blood, it can settle on the skin, which ends up causing both the skin and the eyes to look yellowish.
It can also be produced by breast milk. It is a medically known condition with the name breast milk jaundice, which, as its name suggests, consists of a type of jaundice associated with breastfeeding. It usually occurs about a week after birth and can last up to 12 weeks. However, it rarely causes complications in healthy and breastfed babies.
What are the causes of breast milk jaundice?
The reality is that the exact cause of breast milk jaundice is unknown. However, some doctors agree that it may be related to the presence of a substance in breast milk that prevents certain proteins in the baby's liver from being able to break down bilirubin.
However, this type of jaundice is actually rare, originally affecting less than 3 percent of babies. But, when it happens, it usually does not tend to cause any kind of problem, disappearing by itself. In addition, it is completely safe to continue breastfeeding the baby (that is, there is no reason why breastfeeding should stop or stop).
On the other hand, it is important to keep in mind that this type of jaundice is not at all related to breastfeeding jaundice, which only develops in those newborns who do not get enough breast milk. In fact, babies with breast milk jaundice can properly breastfeed, and receive adequate amounts of breast milk.
Any symptoms of jaundice in the baby should be checked by the pediatrician, especially to make sure there is no more serious cause or an underlying problem that may be causing it. In fact, as we have already mentioned at a previous times, severe untreated jaundice in newborns can cause serious complications, such as the appearance of the kernÃcterus, a disease that can cause permanent brain damage or hearing loss.
Symptoms of breast milk jaundice may include yellowish discoloration of both the baby's skin and the whites of the eyes, fatigue, tiredness, poor weight gain, and acute crying.
On the other hand, the symptoms usually develop after the first week of life and can be maintained until they disappear completely after a maximum of 12 weeks.
Normally babies tend to be born with elevated levels of red blood cells. When older blood cells begin to be removed after birth, a yellowish-colored pigment known as bilirubin is naturally generated.
Generally, this yellow discoloration, caused by bilirubin, tends to disappear on its own as the still maturing liver develops, and becomes able to break down this pigment. Thus, subsequently, bilirubin passes from the liver to the intestinal tract, to be eliminated through urine or feces.
However, in this type of jaundice in particular, as we mentioned in a previous section, doctors do not know why it occurs. It is believed that it may be caused by the existence of some substances, present in breast milk, capable of blocking the proteins in the liver responsible for the breakdown of bilirubin.
Since the exact cause is unknown, there are few risk factors associated with this type of jaundice. In short, it can occur in any newborn that is being fed breast milk. But it can also be genetic, so a family history of jaundice in infants could increase the risk in the baby
Jaundice, a condition that causes yellowing of the skin and eyes, is an extremely common condition among newborns. Not surprisingly, it is estimated that about 60 percent of babies usually present it in the days immediately after birth. And, in most cases, it occurs when babies have an elevated level of bilirubin in the blood, a yellow pigment that occurs naturally as a result of the breakdown of red blood cells.
Normally, in more or less normal conditions, bilirubin tends to pass through the liver, and then be released into the intestinal tract for later elimination through feces. However, it is very common that, in newborns, the liver is not yet fully mature, so it is most likely that it is not entirely capable of removing excess bilirubin present in the blood.
Therefore, when there is too much bilirubin in the blood, it can settle on the skin, which ends up causing both the skin and the eyes to look yellowish.
It can also be produced by breast milk. It is a medically known condition with the name breast milk jaundice, which, as its name suggests, consists of a type of jaundice associated with breastfeeding. It usually occurs about a week after birth and can last up to 12 weeks. However, it rarely causes complications in healthy and breastfed babies.
What are the causes of breast milk jaundice?
The reality is that the exact cause of breast milk jaundice is unknown. However, some doctors agree that it may be related to the presence of a substance in breast milk that prevents certain proteins in the baby's liver from being able to break down bilirubin.
However, this type of jaundice is actually rare, originally affecting less than 3 percent of babies. But, when it happens, it usually does not tend to cause any kind of problem, disappearing by itself. In addition, it is completely safe to continue breastfeeding the baby (that is, there is no reason why breastfeeding should stop or stop).
On the other hand, it is important to keep in mind that this type of jaundice is not at all related to breastfeeding jaundice, which only develops in those newborns who do not get enough breast milk. In fact, babies with breast milk jaundice can properly breastfeed, and receive adequate amounts of breast milk.
Any symptoms of jaundice in the baby should be checked by the pediatrician, especially to make sure there is no more serious cause or an underlying problem that may be causing it. In fact, as we have already mentioned at a previous times, severe untreated jaundice in newborns can cause serious complications, such as the appearance of the kernÃcterus, a disease that can cause permanent brain damage or hearing loss.
What are the symptoms of breast milk jaundice?
Symptoms of breast milk jaundice may include yellowish discoloration of both the baby's skin and the whites of the eyes, fatigue, tiredness, poor weight gain, and acute crying.
On the other hand, the symptoms usually develop after the first week of life and can be maintained until they disappear completely after a maximum of 12 weeks.
Normally babies tend to be born with elevated levels of red blood cells. When older blood cells begin to be removed after birth, a yellowish-colored pigment known as bilirubin is naturally generated.
Generally, this yellow discoloration, caused by bilirubin, tends to disappear on its own as the still maturing liver develops, and becomes able to break down this pigment. Thus, subsequently, bilirubin passes from the liver to the intestinal tract, to be eliminated through urine or feces.
However, in this type of jaundice in particular, as we mentioned in a previous section, doctors do not know why it occurs. It is believed that it may be caused by the existence of some substances, present in breast milk, capable of blocking the proteins in the liver responsible for the breakdown of bilirubin.
Since the exact cause is unknown, there are few risk factors associated with this type of jaundice. In short, it can occur in any newborn that is being fed breast milk. But it can also be genetic, so a family history of jaundice in infants could increase the risk in the baby
