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Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Infant feeding

Breast Milk Jaundice at 6 wks ... any help doc says 3 days FF and bf at mo ..

18 replies

Shell001 · 02/06/2009 14:32

Hi,

Abit worried going on to bottle for 3 days ..
DS2 is 6 wks and jaundice and doc said today try 3 days ff and express to keep milk up ..

so how many times a day to do that ?

does it last in fridge for 24 hours and freezer 1 month ?

So long since expressed 21 months ago ..

OP posts:

Report

kidcreoleandthecoconuts · 02/06/2009 14:36

I would express every 4 hours or so. Including once overnight if you can. Your boobs will remind you! They'll be sooo full if you forget .
I'm pretty sure it's 24hours in a fridge and 3 months in the freezer.

Shell001 · 02/06/2009 14:37

Thanks yes i think they might remind me .. worried though about DS2 going back to BF after bottle or if he will take to FF ?

OP posts:

tiktok · 02/06/2009 14:42

Breastmilk jaundice does not normally mean you have to suspend breastfeeding.

Seek a second opinion on this, if you can, Shell.

It's very unusual advice, unless your baby is actually ill with the jaundice (very rare)

"Temporary interruption of breastfeeding is rarely needed and is not recommended unless serum bilirubin levels reach 20 mg/dL (340 µmol/L)."

emedicine.medscape.com/article/973629-treatment

www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage.cfm?ID=-489684990

www.breastfeedingmums.com/dr_jack_newman_breastfeeding_and_jaundice.htm

you · 02/06/2009 14:53

Hiya Shell,

Congrats on new(ish) born

Tbh, treating breastmilk jaundice by formula feeding is really quite rare. It's rarely harmful in otherwise healthy infants so I'm quite surprised that's what you've been advised to do- was it your GP you spoke to, or a neonatal reg/ paediatrician? It can be treated rapidly this way, but if he's otherwise well, the advise is usually to feed more often! Do you by any chance know wheat his SBR (biliruben level) is?

Is he gaining weight well, and confident his latch is correct? Hope you don't mind me asking, but advising to temporarily stop breastfeeds is usually a 'last resort' plan of action, often accompanied by use of phototherapy.

As for storing EBM, there is info on kellymom here. You can usually keep fresh milk in the fridge up to 8 days (24hrs if previosly frozen).

you · 02/06/2009 14:54

Such a crappy x post sorry!

Takes me a blooming age to find links

MilaMae · 02/06/2009 17:34

My dd was seriously ill with jaundice and had phototherapy.

I was allowed to bfeed but I had to express so they could measure what was going in, I also had to give f when what I expressed wasn't enough.

My dd got seriously ill because my midwife didn't insist on expressing and using f to get more into her. My consultant was furious as she was so ill brain damage was a possibility,thankfully having 2 other kids I insisted on a blood test as knew all was not well so we got it just in time and she's absolutely fine.

What I'm trying to say is getting enough fluid in is vital and you really do need to respect medical advice as severe jaundice is not nice. However I'd ask why you can't give your ds the ebm you're producing.

tiktok · 02/06/2009 17:48

MilaMae, I think you are describing a different condition. It's not lack of fluid that causes breastmilk jaundice, and more fluid would not treat breastmilk jaundice. In breastmilk jaundice it is something in the breastmilk that causes unusual metabolic activity in the baby. It is not physiologic jaundice which when severe certainly does need treatment and often sufficient fluids.

MilaMae · 02/06/2009 17:51

Interesting, thanks Tiktok.

What causes the other one? Just interested as I and all 3 of my dc had it but my sister and dp didn't.

FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 02/06/2009 17:53

Sorry but I would take your baby to A&E with this. Jaundice in babies should always be taken very seriously and they should do a liver function test to determine whether it's a problem with the liver or just normal jaundice.
I don't mean to frighten you, I have a cousin who's baby was jaundiced, she breast fed. The baby was about 8 weeks, he was put to bed and didn't wake. It was found after that he'd had a problem with his liver. The HV was suspended, she was visiting every week and wrote in his book that he was jaundiced but did nothing. Your baby really does need a blood test. I wouldn't leave this. It has nothing to do with being breast fed by the way.

lagaanisace · 02/06/2009 17:53

My baby was still jaundiced at 6 weeks. They did all the tests and came to the conclusions all was well, it was just bf jaundice. I just kept feeding her and gradually it disappeared. But I have to say I did express and give her that. It was a good way of ensuring she was getting plenty of milk.

I also had to express for DS1 because he was very jaundiced. Again, I expressed to make sure he got enough. The jaundice disappeared with the breast milk, but I think it was the expressing that was key to getting him to take enough.

I really found the NCT breastfeeding line incredibly helpful. I can't recommend enough talking to people with lots of breastfeeding knowledge - it really makes the difference.

Hope all goes well.

tiktok · 02/06/2009 17:55

Fluffy - Shell's baby will certainly have had a blood test in order to have got the diagnosis of breastmilk jaundice.

FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 02/06/2009 17:58

That's good. I was really worried.

Shell001 · 02/06/2009 18:36

thanks my doc said to from bloods back from hospital also seen pau unit and paediatrican as has reflux / colic problems and is on meds for that .. he is 11 lb 5 ozs and birth weight was 7 lb 9 ozs and last test was 78 ..he has trouble feeding with pain from reflux and colic and doesnt like lying down so few other factors maybe y ..

OP posts:

Shell001 · 02/06/2009 18:41

he feeds little and often as doesnt get what wants wth pain and that so may help ff and top up bfeed ? 3 days he said to rules out it being anything other than breast milk jaundice which is good i think ?

OP posts:

TheProvincialLady · 02/06/2009 18:49

I don't think the suggested treatment is standard at all and I would definitely want a second opinion before giving formula. My DS2 was jaundiced for 9 or 10 weeks but it was mild and the GP just monitored. He said that 'in the old days' the advice was to give formula but as long as the baby was gaining weight well, thriving and the jaundice was not getting worse, there was no benefit.

3 days of formula may do no harm at all, OR it may result in breast refusal and the end of BF, or it could be problematic with the reflux.

If it was me I would not go against medical advice, but I would want the advice to come from a specialist (and one who knows about BF too).

Shell001 · 02/06/2009 21:49

spoke to breastfeeding helpline and she suggusts topping up with breast milk .. so what should i do my doctor whats me to try without formula .. should i call hv tomorrow ?
got formula tonight and breast pump ...

HELP .. i hate the thought of formula all my hard work ..

OP posts:

Shell001 · 02/06/2009 21:50

with formula

OP posts:

tiktok · 02/06/2009 22:26

Shell, no one can advise you except to say 'get a second opinion from someone who knows their stuff.'

The doctor is giving you non-standard advice. There may be reasons for it, but he hasn't explained them satisfactorily to you as far as can be seen here. Giving formula to a baby with reflux and colic issues is not something to be done lightly and three days of expressing is hard work, and is a risk to breastfeeding. On top of that, you are clear that you are not keen on giving formula.

HV would be a good call - she will know how you can talk this over with someone else.

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