Jaundice is an effect of buildup in the blood of the bilirubin, a yellowish pigment that gets from the breakdown of old erythrocytes. It is normal for the erythrocytes to break down, although the bilirubin formed does not generally cause jaundice since the liver will metabolize them and then eliminate them in the bowel.

However, the newborn infant will often get jaundiced on the first few days due to the liver enzyme that metabolizes the bilirubin seemly relatively immature. Therefore, newborn infant will have more red blood cells than adults, and thus more will break down at any given time.

There’s a condition that’s normally referred to as breast milk jaundice, although nobody knows what really causes it. In order to diagnose this, the infant should be at least a week old. The infant should be well gaining with breast feeding alone too, having good bowel movements with the passing of unclouded urine.

In this kind of setting, the infant gets what is referred to as breast milk jaundice. On occasion, urinary infection or an under functioning of the infant thyroid gland, as well as other uncommon illnesses that can induce the same types of problems.

Breast milk jaundice normally highest at 10 - 21 days, although it may last for 2 - 3 months. Contrary to what you may think, breast milk jaundice is normal. Seldom, if at all ever, does breast feeding need to be ended for even a brief period of time.

If the infant is doing well on breast milk, there is no reason at all to end or add on with a lactation aid.