IF JAUNDICE OCCURS, DO I NEED TO QUIT BREASTFEEDING?

NEONATAL JAUNDICE
The answer is No! In fact, breastfeed your baby more often. The lack of breastfeeding can cause jaundice. Let your health care provider know that your baby and work with the health care provider on the treatment plan.
Breastfeeding should be often (10 to 12 times per day and for as much time as the baby needs. If the baby is breastfeeding actively, have the baby empty the first breast before offering the second. When a baby begins bre
By: Charmagne Duque

HOW DO YOU TEST FOR JAUNDICE?

If your babys skin or eyes are very yellow or your healthcare provider thinks its necessary, your baby will need a blood test to measure the amount of bilirubin in the blood.

WHAT IF MY BABY HAS HIGH BILIRUBIN LEVELS?

Your babys nurse and doctor will check how well your baby is feeding, dirtying diapers and sleeping. Some babies with a high bilirubin level are very sleepy. If the bilirubin level is high, your babys doctor may decide to use

What is Jaundice?
A liver condition that causes yellowing of
a newborn babys skin and eyes.
REFERENCES:
Lowdermilk, D. L. (2012). Maternity & women's health care. St. Louis, MO: Mosby.

MEREDITH L. PORTER, CPT, MC, USA, and BETH L. DENNIS, MAJ, MC, USA, Dewitt Army Community
Hospital, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. (n.d.). Hyperbilirubinemia in the Term Newborn. Retrieved
November 16, 2016, from http://www.aafp.org/afp/2002/0215/p599.html Kapiolani Community College
 Hyperbilirubinemia is one of the most common problems
encountered in term newborns -American Family Physician

Neonatal
Jaundice
YOUR BABY:
Is not feeding every 2 or 4
Physiological jaundice is a commonA babys skin or eyes may turn yellow when: hours or doesnt want to
There is a lot of bilirubin released. suck.
condition in newborn infants. Babies
with jaundice always have a yellowOr there is too much bilirubin for your babys liver to remove quickly.
Sleeps more than 4 or 5
hours at a time.
color in their skin or in the white part health problems can make jaundice worse. These include:
Some
of their eyes. Some babies get Bruising Seems less active than usual.

jaundice when they are 2 or 3 daysA blood type different than mothers Has an increase in the yellow
Prematurity
old. For most babies, this jaundice is color of skin and/or whites of
Infection the eyes.
normal.
G6PD deficient
WHEN IS TREATMENT NEEDED?
What causes Jaundice?
In many cases, treatment is
not needed. Your healthcare
The yellow color comes from
provider may advise you to
BILIRUBIN. Bilirubin is found in red watch your baby for the
blood cells. When your newborn changes listed above.

babys body breaks down the red When bilirubin is too high,
your healthcare provider may
suggest the following
treatments:

o Frequent feeding of
breastmilk and or iron
fortified formula.

o Phototherapy.