Question
My baby is eight days old and had jaundice on the second day after birth. It has since decreased, but I noticed the baby’s skin has turned yellow again these two days during breastfeeding. Is this a sign of breastfeeding jaundice? What precautions should I take?
Answer
Health Advisor Clears Up the Mystery: Full-term infants may experience a recurrence of jaundice between 2-3 days after birth, reaching its peak at 4-5 days and fading away by 5-7 days. Normally, it does not exceed 2 weeks, while premature infants may extend up to 3-4 weeks. It is recommended to conduct a bilirubin index test during the baby’s physiological jaundice period, and hospitalization may be required if the level is below 12.9mg. Bilirubin testing can be performed after breastfeeding to diagnose possible breastfeeding jaundice. Stopping breastfeeding and switching to artificial feeding may be necessary.