- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Breastfeeding
Breastmilk jaundice?
DS has jaundice. Last week his levels were high & he was on a Biliblanket for 3 days. His levels went down & they took him off the blanket. Today at his 2 week checkup they tested him again & he's still a little jaundice.
His Pedi suspects it's breastmilk jaundice & wants us to stop bfing for 48 hours to confirm. Pedi recommended doing formula next Wed-Fri & then coming in for the appointment to check his levels. His reasoning was that DS would be 3 weeks old then & bfing would be well established.
This is really bumming me out, bfing is going so well & I'm worried this will mess it up. DS is eating & gaining like a champ & my supply is great. However, DH & I agree with Pedi that we need to confirm breastmilk jaundice, because there is a slim chance that there could be another cause which would need to be further investigated.
The possible problem: I've heard that some babies won't take bottles from their mother because they're used to bfing. DH is going back to work next Monday. So far DS has taken 2 bottles from DH with no problem. (1 per day for the last 2 days)
Pedi said we could:
A) Do formula this Sat-Mon
Do formula Wed.-Fri
C) Do formula next Sat.-Mon
I don't know if I should try to give a bottle during the week knowing DS might not take the bottle from me or just wait until the weekend when DH will be here to feed DS. Pedi said it's our choice. What would you do?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Breastmilk jaundice?
Honestly? I'd find a pedi that supports breastfeeding because yours doesn't.
I know that doesn't really help with your current dillemma, but I would seek a second opinion before giving formula. Yes, there is a risk that it's something more serious... but did anyone bring up the risks of formula feeding? If not, they're not being responsible caregivers.
Natural Birth Board FAQs
Cloth Diaper Review Sheet
No risks of formula were discussed. Pedi basically said, switch for 48 hours, we'll retest his levels then switch back.
Find a new pediatrician!!!
and what your experiencing is NORMAL!
read more here:
https://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79:breastfeeding-and-jaundice&catid=5:information&Itemid=17
"Breastmilk jaundice peaks at 10-21 days, but may last for two or three months. Breastmilk jaundice is normal. Rarely, if ever, does breastfeeding need to be discontinued even for a short time. Only very occasionally is any treatment, such as phototherapy, necessary. There is not one bit of evidence that this jaundice causes any problem at all for the baby. Breastfeeding should not be discontinued ?in order to make a diagnosis?. If the baby is truly doing well on breast only, there is no reason, none, to stop breastfeeding or supplement even if the supplementation is given with a lactation aid, for that matter. "
https://www.breastfeedingbasics.com/articles/jaundice-in-the-breastfed-baby
https://www.perinatalservicesbc.ca/sites/bcrcp/files/Guidelines/Newborn/JaundiceAPRILFINAL2002.pdf
https://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;114/1/297
https://bilitool.org/
https://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/jaundiceGood.html
Little Rose is 2 1/2.
I agree. We had a little bit of jaundice when we came home from the hospital. My pediatrician said we'd keep an eye on it. Jaundice peaks during the first week. If it was still around by his 1 month appointment it was probably breastmilk jaundice. He said if it were breastmilk jaundice the baby would just grow out of it - no need to stop breastfeeding.