BREAST MILK JAUNDICE

Normally, bilirubin passes through the liver, which releases it into the intestinal
tract. In newborns, however, the liver is often underdeveloped and may not be
able to remove bilirubin from the blood. When there’s too much bilirubin in the
blood, it can settle in the skin. This causes the skin and eyes to appear yellow.

Breast milk jaundice is a type of jaundice associated with breast-feeding. It

typically occurs one week after birth. The condition can sometimes last up to 12
weeks, but it rarely causes complications in healthy, breast-fed infants.

The exact cause of breast milk jaundice isn’t known. However, it may be linked to
a substance in the breast milk that prevents certain proteins in the infant’s liver
from breaking down bilirubin. The condition may also run in families.