Question
Does congenital biliary atresia affect a baby’s desire to breastfeed?
Answer
A baby with congenital biliary atresia may experience a decrease in the desire to breastfeed due to partial or complete obstruction of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts, leading to severe obstructive jaundice. This condition can cause liver cell damage, and if the bile duct obstruction is not resolved promptly, it can progress to biliary cirrhosis, which is irreversible in the later stages. Therefore, babies with biliary atresia may exhibit jaundice of the skin at birth, and parents should take their baby to a regular hospital for an examination promptly.