Become a contributor and register to submit your story!
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

Boobingit
  • Mama Stories
  • Breastfeeding and…
    • All
    • Being prepared
    • Covid19
    • Doing it longterm
    • Products + Reviews
    • Returning to work
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Sleep
    • Style
    • Support
    • The benefits
    • The challenges
    breast-milk-ring

    Why I chose breast milk jewellery to celebrate my breastfeeding journey

    Gemma Nixon pictured at the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital

    Mother raises over £2000 to provide breastfeeding supplies to the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital

    Olivia Bowen breastfeeding

    Olivia Bowen admits the thought of breastfeeding ‘freaked me out’ but now considers it ‘natural’ and ‘amazing’

    World Breastfeeding Week challenges

    World Breastfeeding Week highlights just how all-consuming and challenging breastfeeding can be for mothers

    6 things I’ve learned in my first year of breastfeeding

    Mother breastfeeding her baby boy

    Stepping up for my friend and stepping up for breastfeeding

    Trending Tags

    • breastfeeding
    • covid vaccine and breastfeeding
    • breastfeeding and Covid19
    • Hypnobirthing and breastfeeding
    • boobingit podcast
    • Latched breastfeeding bra
    • breastfeeding support
    • diy breast milk soap
    • Sleep
    • Covid19
    • Being prepared
    • Returning to work
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Style
    • The benefits
    • The challenges
    • Doing it longterm
  • Resources
    • Guides
      • Breastfeeding after giving birth
      • Breastfeeding after a caesarean birth
      • Breastfeeding a baby in NICU
      • Breastfeeding the unsettled baby
      • Breastfeeding positions
      • Responsive feeding
      • Breastfeeding in public
      • Expressing milk
      • Tongue ties
      • Mastitis
      • Breast refusal
      • Bottle refusal
      • Relactation and Induced Lactation
      • Breast milk soap
      • Babywearing
      • Transitioning baby to solid foods
    • A-Z Glossary
  • The Podcast
  • ContributorsNew
  • Shop
    • Baby & Breastfeeding Essentials
    • Boobingit Merch
  • Buy Our Book
  • Mama Stories
  • Breastfeeding and…
    • All
    • Being prepared
    • Covid19
    • Doing it longterm
    • Products + Reviews
    • Returning to work
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Sleep
    • Style
    • Support
    • The benefits
    • The challenges
    breast-milk-ring

    Why I chose breast milk jewellery to celebrate my breastfeeding journey

    Gemma Nixon pictured at the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital

    Mother raises over £2000 to provide breastfeeding supplies to the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital

    Olivia Bowen breastfeeding

    Olivia Bowen admits the thought of breastfeeding ‘freaked me out’ but now considers it ‘natural’ and ‘amazing’

    World Breastfeeding Week challenges

    World Breastfeeding Week highlights just how all-consuming and challenging breastfeeding can be for mothers

    6 things I’ve learned in my first year of breastfeeding

    Mother breastfeeding her baby boy

    Stepping up for my friend and stepping up for breastfeeding

    Trending Tags

    • breastfeeding
    • covid vaccine and breastfeeding
    • breastfeeding and Covid19
    • Hypnobirthing and breastfeeding
    • boobingit podcast
    • Latched breastfeeding bra
    • breastfeeding support
    • diy breast milk soap
    • Sleep
    • Covid19
    • Being prepared
    • Returning to work
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Style
    • The benefits
    • The challenges
    • Doing it longterm
  • Resources
    • Guides
      • Breastfeeding after giving birth
      • Breastfeeding after a caesarean birth
      • Breastfeeding a baby in NICU
      • Breastfeeding the unsettled baby
      • Breastfeeding positions
      • Responsive feeding
      • Breastfeeding in public
      • Expressing milk
      • Tongue ties
      • Mastitis
      • Breast refusal
      • Bottle refusal
      • Relactation and Induced Lactation
      • Breast milk soap
      • Babywearing
      • Transitioning baby to solid foods
    • A-Z Glossary
  • The Podcast
  • ContributorsNew
  • Shop
    • Baby & Breastfeeding Essentials
    • Boobingit Merch
  • Buy Our Book
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

Boobingit
No Result
View All Result
Home Breastfeeding And... Being prepared

What you need to know about jaundice and breastfeeding

Ebonie Chandraraj by Ebonie Chandraraj
July 27, 2021
in Being prepared, Breastfeeding And...
0
jaundice and breastfeeding

What is jaundice?

Lots of babies will appear jaundice in the early days after birth – in fact, 60-80% of all newborns will have jaundice.

Jaundice is when a baby’s skin appears to have a yellow colouring to it. It usually starts on the face and then spreads down the chest and rest of body and can affect palms of hands and soles of feet. In some babies, the whites of their eyes can appear yellow too.  Sometimes it may cause dark coloured urine or pale coloured stools.

Jaundice is most common in breastfed infants and more common in premature babies. Some research also says it’s more common in babies of East Asian origin.

Jaundice is most common in breastfed infants and more common in premature babies.

What causes jaundice?

Red blood cells in a baby’s body break down after the baby is born (baby’s have lots of them) and produce bilirubin, which is usually converted in the liver and can then be removed from the body via stools. Some babies liver isn’t always able to process all of the bilirubin so then it’s deposited around the body and shows on the skin and other places.

When do we worry about jaundice?

  • If it appears in the first 24 hours of life
  • If levels are very high when checked using either a monitor on skin by a midwife or a blood test
  • If baby is loosing weight (more than the usual post birth weight loss of 8-10%)
  • If baby is excessively sleepy
  • If baby is premature 
  • If jaundice is still present after 14 days of age (21 days for premature babies) 

Why do we worry about jaundice?

  • If bilirubin levels are very high and not treated it can cause brain damage – called kernicterus – although thankfully this is very rare.
  • If levels are high when checked then babies may need to be admitted to hospital for phototherapy where they are put under lights which help break down the bilirubin or occasionally an exchange transfusion.
  • Also, if baby still appears jaundice after 14 days old then it can be a sign of underlying medical condition such as liver disease, again this is very rare but can only be diagnosed with a blood test.

So what does jaundice mean for breastfeeding?

Although babies might be more sleepy when jaundiced especially if it’s more severe, there is usually no reason to move away from exclusive breastfeeding. A good feeding assessment and support (to rule out things like tongue tie or other underlying feeding issues) are important and a midwife or health visitor can do this and also review baby’s growth when needed.

To help your baby overcome jaundice, it’s important to feed responsively, have lots of skin to skin, keep baby close, look for early feeding cues, and wake them for feeds if necessary.  If health professionals suggest extra feeds for baby (to help with sleepiness/ growth/ jaundice) these can still usually be breast milk given via a cup or supplementary nursing system alongside continued breastfeeding.

To help overcome jaundice, it’s important to feed responsively, have lots of skin to skin, keep baby close, look for early feeding cues, and wake them for feeds if necessary.

As ever, support for breastfeeding is key

If the baby is admitted to hospital for phototherapy this can make things such as skin to skin and free access to the breast a bit more tricky as baby needs to be under lights at the prescribed times. However, staff should still support mums to establish breastfeeding and discuss ways of supporting the breastfeeding relationship. 

With the right support, jaundice should not impact on the long term ability to exclusively breastfeed. Remember, always speak to your midwife or health visitor if you have concerns about jaundice and/ or feeding

Tags: jaundice and breastfeedingsigns of jaundicetips for jaundice baby
ShareTweetSend
Previous Post

boobingit goes live for World Breastfeeding Week!

Next Post

World Breastfeeding Week Giveaway

Ebonie Chandraraj

Ebonie Chandraraj

Im Ebonie a 38 year old mum of 2 boys both of whom I’ve breastfed and still feeding my 15 month old. I work as a health visitor and am a registered paediatric nurse too, Im passionate about breastfeeding and supporting other women to succeed at breastfeeding. Along with my friend Laura, we run the @gentlehealthvisitors Instagram

Next Post
World Breastfeeding Week Giveaway

World Breastfeeding Week Giveaway

Please login to join discussion

Recommended

breast-milk-ring

Why I chose breast milk jewellery to celebrate my breastfeeding journey

2 days ago
Gemma Nixon pictured at the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital

Mother raises over £2000 to provide breastfeeding supplies to the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital

3 days ago

Become a boobingit member today. It's FREE!

Sign up today for the latest breastfeeding information & inspiration.

Sign Up Now!

Trending

These brides all breastfed at their wedding and it made the day even more special

These brides all breastfed at their wedding and it made the day even more special

July 8, 2022
breastfed infant hair salon

A mother and her breastfed infant are refused entry to a hair salon in Ireland

July 2, 2022
DIY breast milk bath photoshoot

DIY breast milk bath photoshoot

June 29, 2022

Advertisement

Boobingit

Boobingit is here to inform, inspire, and empower you as you navigate your own unique breastfeeding journey.

Follow Boobingit on social

Be part of boobingit.com

Become a Partner

Become a Contributor

  • About boobingit
  • Shop
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2020, Boobingit - for breastfeeders everywhere.

  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart
No Result
View All Result
  • Mama Stories
  • Breastfeeding and…
    • Sleep
    • Covid19
    • Being prepared
    • Returning to work
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Style
    • The benefits
    • The challenges
    • Doing it longterm
  • Resources
    • Guides
      • Breastfeeding after giving birth
      • Breastfeeding after a caesarean birth
      • Breastfeeding a baby in NICU
      • Breastfeeding the unsettled baby
      • Breastfeeding positions
      • Responsive feeding
      • Breastfeeding in public
      • Expressing milk
      • Tongue ties
      • Mastitis
      • Breast refusal
      • Bottle refusal
      • Relactation and Induced Lactation
      • Breast milk soap
      • Babywearing
      • Transitioning baby to solid foods
    • A-Z Glossary
  • The Podcast
  • Contributors
  • Shop
    • Baby & Breastfeeding Essentials
    • Boobingit Merch
  • Buy Our Book

Sign up today to become a contributor and share your story!
Sign up now!

Copyright © 2020, Boobingit - for breastfeeders everywhere.

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
Sign In with Google
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create a boobingit account!

Sign Up with Facebook
Sign Up with Google
OR

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Breastfeeding for Beginners – Latches, letdowns & leaky boobs

Out Now!

Shop Now

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?