Is it allowed to breastfeed a baby with jaundice prolongatus?
In rare cases an icterus prolongatus is caused by breastfeeding. In medicine, this is known as breast milk icterus. It is suspected that certain components that can be found in breast milk (possibly the enzyme beta-glucoronidase) inhibit the breakdown of the bilirubin produced and thus trigger an icterus prolongatus. However, there is no reason to breastfeed a mother’s icterus. However, the baby should be closely monitored for elevated bilirubin levels by the aftercare midwife or a doctor in order to be able to start therapy in time if necessary.
This is how the diagnosis is made
Prolongatus is diagnosed by the characteristic yellow coloration of the skin. The concentration of bilirubin in the blood can be determined with a device by the so-called transcutaneous (through the skin) bilirubin determination. The device is held briefly against the child’s scalp and the yellowing of the skin is measured.
If elevated values are detected during transcutaneous measurement, the bilirubin is determined in the laboratory from the blood. The following values are clarified in order to determine the exact cause of the prolonged jaundice: Total bilirubin, conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin.
