XP: Pedi wants me to stop BFing for 3 days..

GoMommy · March 2011

My LO was bording line jaundice (levels made it up to 18, but never went higher) Then after feeding every 2 hours day and night, they went down to 16. So we stopped checking it. Well at his 1 month check up, doc thought LO still looked alittle yellow, So back to get it retested. LO bili levels are 8, so doc wants me to stop BFing for 3 days and get it rechecked. Ugh, I really don't want to stop and switch to FFing. I'm so worried it will ruin a great breast feeding relationship, plus I don't understand how my milk can be causing issues.. I thought Breast milk was the best thing for them. DH is total against stopping for 3 days, he thinks there is another way to getting LO levels down more.. Ugh, I've been crying since we got the call from the Pedi.. I'm so confussed. any one have to stop feeding? Did it ruin your BF? Or did anyone else have a similar situation where they didn't have to stop feedin?

misskassielynn · March 2011

Gosh, I am so sorry, I don't have any recommendations, but I know I would be crushed. Maybe someone on the BFing board will have suggestions? They are always so helpful there.

ETA: oh duh, you already posted there... I am lame, sorry bout that...

amberp0927 · March 2011

Do you have a pump? Pump everytime LO feeds and use this time to start a freezer stash. I pump exclusively but I had to give her formula for a few days also due to some weight gain issues, and I just pumped at every feeding and saved it all. Alot of extra work, yes, but a week later I was hospitalized and was awfully happy I had the stash. Make sure you massage your breast while pumping to "push" every drop out, and pump for a few mins after the last drop. Your supply may even go up after these three days :-) Plus baby is old enough now that going from bottle to breast shouldn't really be a problem. Good luck!!

Etta07 · March 2011

You could have what is called breast milk jaundice where it is actually a component of the mother's milk that is maintaining the bili levels. My LO was under lights at 6 days old because his level was 21 and this is when I had breast milk jaundice explained to me. I was never told to stop bfing though and his levels haven't been checked since his 2 day follow up post lights. His eyes are still a little yellow and maybe his skin a bit but definitely not as much as it was. All of the drs we have seen have said that it is completely normal and haven't said anything about stopping bfing in order to lower his levels more. They just want to let the normal course of our bodies (mine and my LO's) to get rid of the bili.

GoMommy · March 2011

Ok, so I should have done some research b/4 posting.. but what I'm finding is its acutally normal for BFed babies to stay jaundice longer (up to 12 weeks) and they are fine.. From what I'm reading you SHOULD NOT stop BFing.. I'm going to be calling my pedi tomorrow. Thanks ladies!

misskassielynn · March 2011

Thank goodness! Oh thats wonderful!!!!!!!

GoMommy · March 2011

Yea, it kinda pisses me off about my pedi, tho.. Well here is my fav quote I found while looking stuff up about this...

The notion that there is something wrong with the baby being jaundiced comes from the assumption that the formula feeding baby is the standard by which we should determine how the breastfed baby should be. This manner of thinking, almost universal amongst health professionals, truly turns logic upside down. Thus, the formula feeding baby is rarely jaundiced after the first week of life, and when he is, there is usually something wrong. Therefore, the baby with breastmilk jaundice is a concern and "something must be done". " https://pediatrics.about.com/library/breastfeeding/blbreastfeedingh.htm

kimski · March 2011

My baby was jaundiced when she was born. And the hospital pedi did want her supplemented. They weren't sure she was intaking enough (which is ended up not cause she was dehydrated). At that time though my milk had not come in yet. So I pumped after feeding her. (in order to get as much BM as possible). And supplemented her after every feeding 10-30 mL depending on if she nursed well. this was while she was under lights still-they only wanted her out of lights for 30 minutes or less to feed so if she wasn't nursing well we gave her more supplement. (Our little one can be a slow poke). We supplemented with BM or formula depending on if I had enough BM. At the time the little BM I was pumping wouldn't cover her supplementation all the time. I don't understand why you would need to stop BF but I can understand supplementing with a bottle to make sure LO is getting enough. when our LO's billi was high she was so sleepy that she had a hard time staying awake to breast feed.

TiffanyTheMom · March 2011

good for you for persisting with the breastfeeding! and working that google like a donkey!

JAnalynn3767 · March 2011

INSIST ON BREASTFEEDING!

I was doing really well with breastfeeding, but DS got Jaundice twice this first from a bruise on his head from birth and the second was breastfeeding jaundice. The first time we just supplemented after breastfeeding, the second time I had to stop breastfeeding for 4 days and just pump. My supply is almost gone! and am struggling to bring it back up.

8 is not at all high for Jaundice levels. 25 is considered dangerous and there is an article (that I read after the fact) the american association of pediatrics released that say bili levels are supposed to be increased in infants as it may protect against free radicals. If you google jaundice and free radicals you should be able to find it.

There are alternative treatments for jaundice, even as simple as laying LO by the window, since sunlight helps break everything down. If the pedi still thinks it is too high, they can prescribe a bili blanket to use at home. It is like the lights they use in the hospital, but is just a single strip of flexible light that you can wrap around LO at home.

Hope that helps!

GoMommy · March 2011

So I called my LC (and nurse) and talked to a doula from LLL. The LC told me to def call the doc back and find out why exactly they want me to stop bfing (I doubt that will get me anywhere.. b/c I feel like they didn't listen last time, why would they this time.. but I'll try) the Doula from Le lache league, was super helpful. She gave me some websites and read this big thing from her handbook about it. And one thing that cause "BM jaundice" is not being able to feed enough in the first days of life (DS was on an IV of fluids for his only food for the first 2 days of life) and as long as Galactosemia has been ruled out you shouldn't have to do anything.. It should clear up on its own. Just nurse more often (going back to every 2 hours) and sit him in front of the sun. So now I'm going to call the doc.. kinda scared about it and tell them I'm not stopping BFing.

Shanin8 · March 2011

Who is your pediatrician? Just curious. And don't be scared about speaking up to your doctor. They aren't always right!

GoMommy · March 2011

Dr Saxena (with Dr. Kolb) But I think I'm going to be switching to Dr. Weaver.. Heard great things about him. Just have to figure out some insurance things!

kimski · March 2011

Shanin8:
Who is your pediatrician? Just curious. And don't be scared about speaking up to your doctor. They aren't always right!

I agree. They are not God/do not have to be listened to-especially when you alternative medical advice -the LC and doula regarding not stopping pumping. Never let a medical professional pressure you into something you're not convinced of. Either they will be able to produce evidence on why you should be doing a certain thing (other than them just saying it's so) or they should respect your objections (and the evidence that you have found). If they don't I would want a different pedi.

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XP: Pedi wants me to stop BFing for 3 days..

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