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Infant feeding

breast milk jaundice.......any experience please.......need help quick for my friend.

34 replies

mytetherisending · 22/10/2008 14:28

My friend has a son aged 2 wks, was jaundice but had phototherapy. They are in Cyprus in a military hospital and are telling her she has to stop bf for 48hrs for them to do tests. She is worried about her supply because she feeds about 10 times per day. Any perspective welcome. I also found a link which said it wasn't necessary.

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chrisgtfc · 30/10/2008 19:01

hiya, cheers for replies!! Charlie is still breastfeeding and put on 10ozs in a week so I know I'm doing something right lol!! The doc says he would like the blood and urine tests to be repeated next week to see if anything has changed.

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mytetherisending · 27/10/2008 20:09

Pleased to say that Chris ignored the Dr and carried on bf Her DSs bilirubin levels have continued to drop and they are doing well. Except a cold

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mytetherisending · 23/10/2008 22:04

will keep you posted!

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RhinestoneCowghoul · 23/10/2008 20:04

Great that she's keeping going. Hope things settle down for her soon

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popsycal · 23/10/2008 20:03

excellent news - and the right decion imho (and that of lots of medical professionals )

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mytetherisending · 23/10/2008 16:45

Hi all, I have had an update from Chris and she is continuing to breast feed Her ds is having blood and urine tests and then take it from there.

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mytetherisending · 22/10/2008 21:04

hi all thanks for your input. Chris has gone to bed as she is shattered. I am sure she will be back when shes had some sleep.

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FourArms · 22/10/2008 20:34

As always Kellymom has some good info

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FourArms · 22/10/2008 20:33

So you've got 9 days left to get him in the sun then (I lived in Akrotiri from age 15-19 and my parents have just finished another 3yr stint in Ay Nik. Met DH at St Johns during my 6th form )

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popsycal · 22/10/2008 20:32

ds1 was over 400 at 2 days old and ds3 was over 300 at 5 days old....

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mytetherisending · 22/10/2008 20:26

Actually it tips it down most days in Ctprus from Nov to Feb- their winter LOL

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SazzlesA · 22/10/2008 20:25

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llareggub · 22/10/2008 20:20

oh yes, I was advised to keep DS in the sun. Was rather difficult in November but you ought to find that easier in Cyprus!

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FourArms · 22/10/2008 20:17

How has your baby's weight changed since birth?

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FourArms · 22/10/2008 20:15

I found one reference advocating stopping bfing here

In infants with breast milk jaundice, interruption of breastfeeding for 24-48 hours and feeding with breast milk substitutes often helps to reduce the bilirubin level. Evidence suggests that the simple expedient of supplementing feeds of breast milk with 5 mL of a breast milk substitute reduces the level and duration of jaundice in breast milk?fed infants.

So perhaps just giving 5ml of formula with each bf might help? Has your DS taken a bottle? I'd try cupfeeding, or even spoon feeding such a small quantity.

Remember to keep him out in the sunshine if possible (presuming you've still got some out there )

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popsycal · 22/10/2008 20:02

even when ds1 was really bad and it wasnt shifting and they condsidered a boold transfusion and calling in the regional liver speccialist and had every possible test., i was never ever told to stop breastfeeding

lunacy

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mytetherisending · 22/10/2008 19:56

Chris I would definately print out the links and perhaps phone one of the hospitals mentioned here www.childliverdisease.org/uploaded/File/Yellow%20Alert%20Jaundice%20Protocol%20March%202005.p df
If they say it isn't necessary to stop then ask Dr Eliades to phone them.
I would be inclined to let them do further tests in Nicosia as it is unlikely they will do a lumber pucture, scare tactics . They can't do it without your consent anyway. Ask for both the bilirubin test results, if split bilirubin is less than 20% of the total it is not likely to be serious.
Print out all the links we have given and take them to Eliades.

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popsycal · 22/10/2008 19:54

oh yes both had tons of blood tests
ds3;'s has just cl;eared upp at 5 weeks ds1 took longer

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popsycal · 22/10/2008 19:54

2 of mine had phototherappy - ds1 really really severe and prolonged

she absolutely does not need to stop breast feeding - she needs to feed every 2 hours includuing during the night

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llareggub · 22/10/2008 19:50

My DS had jaundice and phototherapy. I was strongly advised to use formula for the 48 hours he was under the lamp because it made life easier for the medical professionals. I certainly didn't hear a medical argument for it, it was simply about the amount of milk consumed by him.

I pumped and pumped and managed to maintain my supply to the extent I am still breastfeeding him 2 years later. With the MW support I also tried to breastfeed him during the formula feeds although this had to be quick to get him back under the lamp. I was lucky though I think with my feeding.

Not sure what breastmilk jaundice is and if it is different from what DS says, but she will need to be strong if she really, really wants to breastfeed rather than ff. I lost the argument as I was weak from a post c-section infection.

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chrisgtfc · 22/10/2008 19:44

i am the friend in question and our doctor is Dr Eliades. we had our first HV today and then went to the hospital for the 2 week check with Dr Eliades. the MW took some blood and we talked about what was going to be done and they said no breastfeeding for 48hrs.

We got home and baby slept til about half 5 just as the MW rang with his test results. the Bilirubin levels had in fact dropped so we asked the question ' do we still need to give him formula instead of the breast?' Dr said yes but didn't give any sort of reason.

After a few phone calls between dad and midwife, dad finally spoke to the Dr who said either stop breastfeeding or i will refer you to Nicosia for further tests (which include more blood, urine tests and possibly a lumbar puncture) to which dad said 'hell no'.

I have continued to breast feed any further advice would be much appreciated.

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FourArms · 22/10/2008 19:43

The HV in Ay Nik was helpful when I spoke to her (this is going back 2 years now). Have the MW's said anything?

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mytetherisending · 22/10/2008 19:27

yes it is her first baby.

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mytetherisending · 22/10/2008 19:26

Hi, there is a local peadiatrician- Dr Eliades. He is quite good, however, due to there being no HV in Akrotiri the obs and gynea Consultants usually have sole care until the 6wk check. I need to check which Dr her ds is under. I know the system inside out because I used to work at the hospital on adult and peads, but didn't come across much jaundice tbh. I need to go and ask lots of questions.

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FourArms · 22/10/2008 18:55

Is this her 1st baby? Only ask because the bm supply is more delicate if you've not fed for years before.

I'd definitely ask for a 2nd opinion, even if it's just the other doctor. Also ask the MW's. She also needs to clarify exactly what they mean, and ask them to write down for her what tests they want to do.

Is an O&G doc the best person to be advising on this? Do they not have any paed docs out there? If not, then they can consult some in the UK if they are worried. I'd think needing to stop bfing a 2 wk old baby for 2 days (how are they proposing to feed him in that time?) is something they should only be doing under quite serious circumstances.

for your friend.

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