What is the difference between breast fed jaundice and breast milk jaundice
“Breastfed jaundice” and “breast milk jaundice” are two different terms used to describe hyperbilirubinemia (an elevated level of bilirubin in the blood) in newborns who are breastfeeding. While they both relate to jaundice in breastfed infants, they refer to distinct phenomena with different causes:
- Breastfed Jaundice:
- Timing: Breastfed jaundice typically occurs during the first week of life (usually around days 2 to 4) and may persist for a few weeks.
- Cause: Breastfed jaundice is primarily associated with inadequate milk intake in the newborn. It can occur when a breastfeeding baby is not receiving enough breast milk, leading to insufficient calorie intake. This can result from issues such as infrequent or ineffective breastfeeding, maternal factors (e.g., delayed milk production), or infant factors (e.g., poor latch or weak sucking).
- Mechanism: Insufficient milk intake can lead to increased reabsorption of bilirubin in the intestines, reducing its elimination from the body and contributing to elevated bilirubin levels in the blood.
- Management: The treatment for breastfed jaundice typically involves addressing the underlying issue by ensuring adequate breastfeeding, monitoring the baby’s weight gain and bilirubin levels, and providing lactation support to the mother.
- Breast Milk Jaundice:
- Timing: Breast milk jaundice typically presents after the first week of life, often around days 7 to 10 or later.
- Cause: Breast milk jaundice is thought to be related to specific substances in breast milk that can interfere with bilirubin metabolism. The exact cause is not well understood, but it is believed to be associated with factors in breast milk that reduce the excretion of bilirubin by the baby’s liver.
- Mechanism: Some components in breast milk may inhibit the activity of the enzyme responsible for breaking down bilirubin in the liver, resulting in higher bilirubin levels in the baby’s blood.
- Management: Breast milk jaundice often resolves on its own without treatment. Healthcare providers may recommend continued breastfeeding and close monitoring of bilirubin levels. In rare cases, temporary interruption of breastfeeding and supplementation with formula may be considered if bilirubin levels become extremely high.
It’s important for parents and healthcare providers to differentiate between these two conditions, as their causes and management strategies differ. Breastfed jaundice is primarily related to inadequate milk intake and is typically addressed by improving breastfeeding practices, while breast milk jaundice is associated with components in breast milk and often resolves with continued breastfeeding.
If a baby develops jaundice, especially in the early days after birth, parents should consult with a healthcare provider for a thorough evaluation and appropriate management.