P59.3: Neonatal jaundice from breast milk inhibitor

Neo-natal jaundice has been diagnosed.

Blood is made up of a liquid part and different blood cells, among other things. The blood cells include the red blood cells, the white blood cells and the platelets. The red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs throughout the body. When red blood cells get broken down, bilirubin results. Bilirubin is yellow. In the liver, bilirubin enters the bile from the blood. Some of the bile is then excreted with the stool.

After the birth, various processes in a baby's body have to adapt. In the process, many red blood cells get broken down and a lot of bilirubin is produced. At the same time, it may be that not enough bilirubin gets excreted via the bile and the stool. When there is too much bilirubin in the blood, neo-natal jaundice may develop. Breastfeeding has also favored the neo-natal jaundice. Exactly how breast milk can favor neo-natal jaundice has not yet been fully understood. Usually, though, the child can continue to be breastfed.

When a baby has jaundice, the whites of its eyes and its skin can be yellow. To a certain degree, neo-natal jaundice may be normal. If there is far too much bilirubin in the blood, health problems may occur on top of the neo-natal jaundice. These may include a sucking weakness or unusual sleepiness, for example. Bilirubin can also accumulate in various body tissues and cause damage.