Question
A friend’s child was diagnosed with jaundice after birth. What should the mother pay attention to in her daily diet while breastfeeding?
Answer
Newborn jaundice is a common condition characterized by the yellowing of the skin, mucous membranes, and whites of the eyes in newborns, primarily due to an abnormal metabolism of bilirubin, leading to an increased level of bilirubin in the blood. In this situation, when a mother is breastfeeding, she should pay attention to the following dietary advice:
- Eat a light and easy-to-digest diet, avoiding excessive intake of oils and spicy foods to reduce the burden on the gastrointestinal tract.
- Increase dietary fiber intake to promote intestinal peristalsis and prevent constipation, as constipation may worsen jaundice symptoms.
- Maintain adequate water intake to help maintain good milk production and metabolism.
- Avoid eating