Parents are often very worried about the diagnosis of jaundice in newborn babies. However, most cases of jaundice in newborn babies are harmless. By getting proper medical care on time, you can recover immediately. Jaundice in newborn babies is a common problem that occurs in the first few weeks after birth. There are many reasons for jaundice in babies, one of them is breast milk. It is also called breast milk jaundice. This problem often occurs in the first week of life when breastfeeding is started.

Dr. Shagun Walia, Pediatric Endocrinologist, Medanta Hospital, Noida It is said that breast milk jaundice usually occurs in the first and second weeks. During this time, when the child does not get sufficient amount of mother’s milk, it increases the absorption of bilirubin in the intestines, because the liver is not fully developed at this time. In such a situation, the level of bilirubin in the blood also starts increasing and the skin starts turning yellow.

How to cure breast milk jaundice
Doctors say that in most cases, breast milk jaundice does not require any treatment other than monitoring and observation of bilirubin level.

Should one stop giving breast milk?
Doctors do not advise stopping breastfeeding in case of breast milk jaundice. Because mother’s milk provides nutritional and immunological benefits. Temporary interruption of breastfeeding should be done under strict medical supervision only in the rare case of bilirubin levels rising to critical levels.

Can breast milk jaundice be prevented?
There is no way to prevent breast milk jaundice because it is related to the unique composition of breast milk. Instead of focusing on prevention, emphasis should be placed on finding the root cause of jaundice and managing that cause properly.

How is infant jaundice treated?
Phototherapy is the most common method of treatment and is also the most effective way to treat cases of mild to moderate jaundice in newborn babies. Light therapy converts bilirubin in the child’s body into a form that the child can quickly expel through urine and stool. An infant with severe jaundice may need an exchange transfusion. However, this is very rare. In addition to phototherapy, some children may need further testing and treatment, which may include medications, antivirals, phenobarbitone, or steroids, or surgery.