Certain factors may increase the risk of developing breast milk jaundice:
Some studies suggest that certain nonesterified long-chain fatty acids in breast milk may competitively inhibit the liver's ability to process (conjugate) bilirubin for excretion. what causes breast milk jaundice
Newborns have sterile guts that gradually become colonized with bacteria. In formula-fed infants, certain bacteria help break down bilirubin so it cannot be reabsorbed. In breastfed infants, the gut flora is different; the absence of specific bacteria early on may allow more bilirubin to remain in a state where it can be reabsorbed. Certain factors may increase the risk of developing
The management of breast milk jaundice typically involves: In breastfed infants, the gut flora is different;
These factors combined lead to more bilirubin staying in the baby's system instead of leaving the body, resulting in the characteristic yellow tint to the skin and eyes. Breast Milk Jaundice vs. Breastfeeding Jaundice
Unlike breastfeeding jaundice (caused by inadequate intake/dehydration), BMJ appears in a healthy, well-fed infant after the first 4–7 days, peaks in week 2, and can last several weeks. The core cause is not milk volume, but specific that interfere with the infant's liver metabolism of bilirubin.