Question
How can I help an 8-day-old baby successfully breastfeed?
Answer
After an 8-day-old baby has a bilirubin level exceeding 12.8 within 4-5 days after birth and has undergone blue light therapy, they may be unwilling to breastfeed due to the increased effort required for suckling. The baby might also confuse the nipple due to additional intake of milk or glucose water. This may lead the baby to choose the easier option, which is using a bottle for feeding. Guidance: Breastfed infants are more prone to jaundice. If jaundice is suspected to be caused by breastfeeding, one can try to stop feeding for one or two days, and then continue feeding after the jaundice situation stabilizes. The bilirubin level will then stabilize and stop rising. Additionally, if the baby’s jaundice does not subside, it may be due to insufficient breastfeeding volume, leading to too little stool output, and bilirubin not being able to be excreted through feces and urine, thus causing the bilirubin level to remain high. Usually, just by increasing the frequency of feeding and ensuring the baby gets enough milk, as well as enhancing stool frequency, the jaundice situation will stabilize.