Hellobee Boards

So sorry hun!! DId the doc say what causes breastmilk jaundice? Is it something in your diet or just a fluke thing? I really hope H's levels go down and stay down!

Yuck! I'm so sorry you are having to deal with this. FWIW, if her levels do go down at least you know what's kind of causing it and she can have formula. I think you said it best when you said,, 'In this case, breast is not best for her."

Good luck and I hope it gets better soon!

I'm so sorry! We had a jaundice baby when she was born and she was under the lights for 2 days. Luckily she was able to get rid of it, but it was stressful. She also had nipple confusion as well as issues nursing, so we had to bottle feed. Do whatever is best for her, I know it sucks when you have your heart set on breastfeeding, but if formula helps her than stick with it. We had to swtich to formula at 8 weeks, due to my milk being too rich for her tummy. A happy healthy baby is so much better I promise you!

LO had to go under the lights twice... But after his second time, 1 day under the light, he's level went down and we never had any issue. We didn't have breast feeding jaundice though, his was due to being premature. I'm so sorry you are going through this. Hugs

So sorry baby H is going through this!! I HATE jaundice!!
My baby was under intensive lights for 3 days because he and I have a blood type incompatibility. He was on mostly formula for the first few days of his life too.
I still supplement with a few ounces of formula every few days since I can't keep up with his voracious appetite.
I'm sure H will get better.. Try not to stress (although easier said than done) and don't feel bad about feeding her formula!
Thinking of your family and hoping her levels stay down!

I'm not sure why you guys or your ped are so focused on getting the bili levels down? They are not harmful at this point and you've pretty definitively made the diagnosis with the trial of formula. Here are the AAP guidelines on breast milk jaundice:

Management
Avoid interruption of breastfeeding in healthy term babies.
No routine indication for water or formula supplementation.
If bilirubin >20 mg/dL, consider phototherapy.
Rule out other causes of prolonged jaundice.

If your ped has questions please refer them to the guidelines They can continue looking for other stuff, but it's pretty clear from the work up that's already been done. I just want to give you fuel for your arsenal, but really if your ped is uncomfortable at this point, have them consult a GI doc who will tell you all the same thing.

Here's a link: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/973629-treatment

I agree with Mrs. Jacks, I think this is something you need to seriously look at and perhaps consult with another doctor, since it doesn't seem that your ped is following standard guidelines and is making your life (and Harper's!) harder than it needs to be.
Nobody is infallible - at this point I think it's time to seek a second opinion.

I'm so sorry you and Harper are going through this!

My daughter had breast milk jaundice. Once they determined it was breast milk jaundice they said it would go away on its own and I could continue to breast feed her. She's 4 now and I pumped breast milk for a year for her. It was stressful up until the diagnosis with the constant blood test to Check her levels and the 72 hour of formula. I would get a second opinion if you want to breast feed. She didn't stop looking yellow till 3 months.

No advice but just wanted to send you hugs and prayers ! I hope this is almost over for you! Harper is a little doll - such a sweet little face. Best wishes mama !

@luckypenny: Agree.

You have to factor in whats best for yourself and your own mental and emotional health. Harper will flourish no matter which option you choose, but will you? I wish you the best of luck! Ive been where you are and its not an easy place to be. I hope you are able to make a decision you are at peace with.

So sorry to hear all this for you and H! I am no ped but I'm totally with mrsjacks...get a second opinion or something! I guess technically you have but there is no way in hell I would take LO off the boob in this case, and I have no problem with formula whatsoever. My DS had bili levels that were high but after some sun and tons of bfeeding his yrllowness went down after a few weeks.

Ugh, that sucks!

Julia had to spend a day in peds because of high bili leves the day after I got discharged... it was super craptastic not being able to take her home and having her be in the little isolate with the bili lights. Sorry you had to go through something similar (for longer)!

To tell you the truth, they haven't rechecked Julia's bili levels since she was discharged... I hope that's okay!!! I took some photos in which I thought she looked a little yellow, but most times I think her color looks good. She has seen the pediatrican twice since discharge and she wasn't concerned with her color... so I hope everything is okay!

Out of curiosity, are H's stools still green, or are they yellow now? If they're yellow, that's probably a good sign.

ETA: Maybe it's just in the first few days of life, but I thought it was okay if the bili levels went up a bit, since baby is getting older? Does that apply later on?

It sounds like you guys have been through a lot... I hope things improve soon!!!

(My jaundiced little one)