Question
My child is 15 days old, and the bilirubin level was 15.4 before, now it’s 17.3. What should I do? How can I reduce my child’s bilirubin level?
Answer
Newborn jaundice is mainly categorized into physiological jaundice and breastmilk jaundice. Physiological jaundice is caused by insufficient early feeding, leading to a decrease in bilirubin levels. Typically, this type of jaundice will gradually subside within 5-7 days after birth. If it’s breastmilk jaundice, it usually starts a few days after birth and can last for 2-3 months. In this case, if the jaundice is not particularly severe, you can continue breastfeeding. Only in cases where the jaundice is very severe would medication be needed to treat it. Generally, jaundice does not affect the child’s growth and development.