A closer look at jaundice and breastfeeding
Abstracts
Abstracts
Newborn jaundice is one of the most common questions I hear from parents in those first days home. My article Jaundice and Breastfeeding walks through what's actually happening: jaundice is a yellowish tint to a baby's skin that shows up when there's a lot of bilirubin present. Bilirubin comes from the normal breakdown of red blood cells, then passes through the liver and is excreted as bile through the intestine. Understanding that basic process helps parents see why it's so common and why frequent, effective feeding matters during this period. Rather than a broad overview, I wanted to keep the focus tight on this one topic so families have a clear starting point when they notice that yellow tint.