Breastfeeding jaundice :(

[Bearsbaby]

Has anyone got any experience of this? My DD is 3 weeks old and has had jaundice since birth - it was quite high but has come down even though it is still above the normal level. Every few days we have to go back to the Dr for a blood test I've just phoned for the results and the jaundice level has gone back up so Dr said I should stop BF for 3 days and give her formula instead since this should sort the jaundice out. I'm so upset but have got to follow Dr's advice. DH went and got the formula the Dr recommended and fed our DD just now - she took it no problem. I'm gonna express to try to maintain my supply but I'm worried that my DD might not want to go back to BF

Does anyone have any experience or words of comfort/advice?

 

[tinytoes]

i bet she'll go back to the breast no worries. I expressed and fed via a bottle quite a lot in the first 6 weeks. I also gave some formular a few times.
After that I went back to the breast and he never looked back...so much so that now I'm struggling to get him to sip even water from a bottle!!

I imagine she'll love the boobie and thata few days off wont make her forget that.
For her teh boob is best - warm, smells of mum, soft, and has lots of holes for a satisfying drink as opposed to her having to work hard on a bottle with one or two holes.

Dont worry. Keep following your docs advie and yes pump as often as you can - at least 5 times a day if you can (more if possible!) - this is what I was advised when i expressed all my milk, to keep up supply.

 

[aidensmommy88]

yeah, my little one got jaundice from BF, he never latched on, so i just have been bottle feeding breast milk, but when his level went up at a week old the doctor told me to give him formula and he got sick off of it =( he was fine after 2 days, thank god because half the milk he drank he spit up

 

[marley2580]

Make sure you get her in the sunlight as much as possible as this can really help. Personally I'd still put her to the breast a couple of times a day to help keep your supply up and to make sure she's still ok with it. Good luck, I'm sure she'll be fine.

Actually I've just found this https://www.bflrc.com/newman/breastfeeding/jaundice.htm
It says that you don't need to stop feeding and that breastfeeding jaundice doesn't affect the baby's health. Maybe worth a read?

 

[shampain]

Hiya, firstly I know how traumatic it is to have this happen, i had exactly the same with Patrick when he was a week old, we ended up having to go back to hospital with him on the Childrens ward and waited 8hours for bloods to come back only to be told he could go home...this is after we had been told he needed to come in and stay under phototherapy and so would i as i was breastfeeding...it does wonders for your nerves...NOT.
Anyway...Patricks cleared up by itself...but when he was 2 weeks old i made the decision to start FF...Patrick was still slightly yellow at this time but within a few days of been FF he was back to normal colour and the whites of his eyes had cleared. Im not saying stop breast feeding totally but i think putting him on formula would be worth while and you can stil express to keep your supply up.
I know they say breast is best....its rare you hear of things like this that it can cause...like Patrick was covered in milk spots when i was breastfeeding him...they cleared as soon as i stopped.
Anyway.........dont get majorly stressed over it, it is really common and easily treated, but on the other hand i know how upsetting it is to have something wrong with your baby.

 

[ryder]

If you give formula a few days then he will be ok going back to bfing I think... Just keep pumping. Jaundice usually causes them to be a bit lethargic and weak, so bfing is sometimes too hard... im sure once she is back up to feeling better you will have a much easier time.

This is one thing I dont like the nurses saying when people have babies and they dont
have milk etc... its not really ok for a baby to go for so long without food

I agree, keep her in the sun as much as you can, I was told even setting them in a unny window inside will help.

 

[freckleonear]

I agree with Marley, breastmilk jaundice is harmless for the baby (possibily even protective) and there is no need to stop breastfeeding. It peaks at 10-21 days but it's not unusual for it to last for up to three months. Perhaps you could get a second opinion if your doctor isn't up to date with current breastfeeding guidelines?

Here is some more useful information:
https://www.kellymom.com/newman/07jaundice.html
https://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/bfhelp-jaundice.html

If you do stop I'm sure she'll go back to breastfeeding fine, even if she forgets how to latch on you can teach her again.

 

[ryder]

uhh Jaundice is Jaundice... doesn't matter if it is gotten while FFing or BFing... I think since there has been a doctor looking after this case then that is who she should listen to.

Its a bit easier to dream feed extra food with a bottle then it is to bf... whether she supplements with formula of expressed bm... The extra nutrient is needed.

 

[Hevz]

I did some training on this subject for my Breastmates course and you don not have to stop breastfeeding at all...it will clear on it's own and as suggested previously regular access to a sunny window, walks in the park etc will help it along. It makes my blood boil that some Dr's suggest stopping breastfeeding. They usually have no specific training about breastfeeding and certainly don't know everything.


Speak to a lactation consultant in your area if possible or even contact one online and they will reassure you that the best thing you can do for your baby is carry on breastfeeding your baby and feed as regularly as possible...including deliberately waking baby for feeds every few hours if necessary to clear it more quickly.


I had this problem with 2 of my children and was given the same advice as you, luckily I knew it was poor advice and found support...babies were fine and it all cleared completely after a couple of weeks

Those other links given to you are great....here's another good one


https://www.breastfeeding.co.uk/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=13


So rest assured you are not doing your baby any harm by carrying on breatfeeding your baby. Print the info off the links and take them to your Dr...they may teach him a thing or two

 

[marley2580]

uhh Jaundice is Jaundice... doesn't matter if it is gotten while FFing or BFing... I think since there has been a doctor looking after this case then that is who she should listen to.

Its a bit easier to dream feed extra food with a bottle then it is to bf... whether she supplements with formula of expressed bm... The extra nutrient is needed.

Actually breastfeeding jaundice is different to 'normal' jaundice as it doesn't develop until the baby is at least one week old and the baby is usually eating fine etc.

 

[Hevz]

uhh Jaundice is Jaundice... doesn't matter if it is gotten while FFing or BFing... I think since there has been a doctor looking after this case then that is who she should listen to.

Its a bit easier to dream feed extra food with a bottle then it is to bf... whether she supplements with formula of expressed bm... The extra nutrient is needed.

I'm afraid you are wrong

 

[freckleonear]

uhh Jaundice is Jaundice... doesn't matter if it is gotten while FFing or BFing... I think since there has been a doctor looking after this case then that is who she should listen to.

Nope, breastmilk jaundice is different to physiological jaundice.

 

[Poppeteer]

Hey hun, our little one is 8 weeks tomorrow and still jaundiced!!! We had phototherapy for a few days, which reduced it a little, but once she was out the lights her jaundice level bounced up


HV has said looks like bmilk jaundice, but im still bf'ing.... most of the jaundice is gone, but she's still yellow- lots of sunlight on lovely days like today helps.

Personally im not going to ff for a few days as it is clearing up on it's own- just very slowly!

 

[Logiebear]

I did some training on this subject for my Breastmates course and you don not have to stop breastfeeding at all...it will clear on it's own and as suggested previously regular access to a sunny window, walks in the park etc will help it along. It makes my blood boil that some Dr's suggest stopping breastfeeding. They usually have no specific training about breastfeeding and certainly don't know everything.


Speak to a lactation consultant in your area if possible or even contact one online and they will reassure you that the best thing you can do for your baby is carry on breastfeeding your baby and feed as regularly as possible...including deliberately waking baby for feeds every few hours if necessary to clear it more quickly.


I had this problem with 2 of my children and was given the same advice as you, luckily I knew it was poor advice and found support...babies were fine and it all cleared completely after a couple of weeks

Those other links given to you are great....here's another good one


https://www.breastfeeding.co.uk/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=13


So rest assured you are not doing your baby any harm by carrying on breatfeeding your baby. Print the info off the links and take them to your Dr...they may teach him a thing or two

I agree with everything Hevs has said hun. Under no circumstances should you stop breast feeding hun. My baby was born at 34 weeks and has been in and out os hosp with dangerously high billarubin (sp) levels and I fought to keep breast feeding. Yes they need extra fluids to help flush it out but you can do this by expressing your milk and topping up after each feed. It will also encouraging more supply so your baby will get there. My baby is still slightly jaundiced but her levels are around 120 now instead of 300 2 weeks ago! Don't let them push you into it and keep with the breast feeding hun xxx

I know it's tough and they make you feel guitly if you don't do what they say but stick to it xxx

 

[Smexi.Mommie]

Well my baby is 2 weeks old and he was jaundice at the begging about 380 was his billierubben and we were admitted to the hospital for 5 days where he had to stay under the light and i have no idea where ur doctor is tellin u to STOP BF since thats the best thing for them right now that what my doctors and nurses told me as well as looking things up on the internet... if i were u i wud contunie BF ur baby its the best thing for her, i was told to watch for wet diapers and for my babys poo's to start changing,


Plz msg me to tell me how things go i know what ur goingthru and dont take my advise if u dont think its helpful maybe ur doctor is right, im just giving u my input Hope things wok out for u