![]() It's unclear why breastfed babies are more likely to develop jaundice, but a number of theories have been suggested.įor example, it may be that breast milk contains certain substances that reduce the ability of the liver to process bilirubin. See treating newborn jaundice for more information. ![]() If your baby needs to be treated for jaundice, they may need extra fluids and more frequent feeds during treatment. The benefits of breastfeeding outweigh any potential risks associated with the condition. ![]() Some breastfed babies can have jaundice for as long as 12 weeks, but it's important that this is checked by a health visitor or GP so other more serious causes of jaundice can be ruled out. Breastfeedingīreastfeeding your baby can increase their chances of developing jaundice.īut there's no need to stop breastfeeding your baby if they have jaundice, because the symptoms normally pass in a few weeks. This means the jaundice often corrects itself by this point without causing any harm. This means the level of bilirubin in babies is much higher than in adults.īy the time a baby is around 2 weeks old, they're producing less bilirubin and their liver is more effective at removing it from the body. Jaundice is common in newborn babies because babies have a high number of red blood cells in their blood, which are broken down and replaced frequently.Ī newborn baby's liver is not fully developed, so it's less effective at processing the bilirubin and removing it from the blood. ![]() The liver changes the form of the bilirubin so it can be passed out of the body in poo.īut if there's too much bilirubin in the blood or the liver cannot get rid of it, the excess bilirubin causes jaundice. The bilirubin travels in the bloodstream to the liver. This is known as hyperbilirubinaemia.īilirubin is a yellow substance produced when red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body, are broken down. Jaundice is caused by too much bilirubin in the blood. ![]()
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