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Newborn or Infant Jaundice is a yellowing of a baby’s skin and eyes. It is very common and can occur when babies have a high level of bilirubin, a yellow pigment produced during normal breakdown of red blood cells. This usually occurs because a baby's liver isn't mature enough to get rid of bilirubin in the bloodstream. The good news is that in most cases, newborn jaundice goes away on its own as a baby’s liver develops and as the baby begins to feed, which helps bilirubin pass through the body. In most cases, the condition disappears within 2 to 3 weeks. Jaundice that persists longer than 3 weeks may be a symptom of an underlying condition.
Breast milk is not harmful for a baby with jaundice. Jaundice is temporary for healthy infants. However, if the baby has an underlying medical condition, he or she must receive medical treatment but breastfeeding is still their best option for nutrition.
Read more: What to do if your baby has jaundice (yellowing of the skin)?
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Breastfeeding problems such as sore nipples, skin problems, mastitis and nipple problems may hinder effective breastfeeding or cause discomfort to the mother. The following are some of the common breastfeeding problems, their causes and how to manage them.
Sore or cracked Nipples
Sore nipples can be seen as crack, wound, bleeding or pain of the nipples. It is due to the baby’s improper attachment while breastfeeding, position and other bacterial or fungal infection. This can be managed through the following steps:
- Massage the breast from top to the nipple using coconut oil to soften the area or visible crack.
- Wipe expressed breast milk from the nipple every 15 minutes.
- Breastfeed your baby on the unaffected breast and make sure that the baby is properly attached to the breast.
- Position your baby horizontally, bring him/her close to your body and carry or support the baby up to your breast.
- Sit at a relaxed position while breastfeeding. Putting a pillow at the back may help support your lower back for comfort.
- Gradually breastfeed your baby on the affected sore nipple because this is the only way for it to heal faster. Breast milk contains antibacterial substances which can hasten the healing process and fight against infection.
- You may try other comfortable breastfeeding positions. Remember to continuously breastfeed your baby.
Read more: Common Breastfeeding Problems and How to Manage Them
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Good positioning helps ensure that the baby suckles well, helps the mother produce continuous breast milk supply and helps make the session more comfortable for both the mother and baby. The four key points about the baby’s position are: straight, facing the breast, close and supported. The following are the different breastfeeding positions and some tips on when to use them:
Read more: Breastfeeding Positions that can help in Successful Breastfeeding
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Did you know that exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months can be a natural contraceptive method? This process is known as the Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) which is a contraceptive method where the mother is informed and supported in using breastfeeding as a contraceptive method. The sucking stimulus during breastfeeding activates the secretion of hormones that suppress ovulation or being fertile after giving birth. Studies also show that LAM is 98% effective in preventing pregnancies for up to 6 months as long as:
● Exclusive breastfeeding is performed day and night
● Infant is less than 6 months
● The mother did not experience any menstrual bleeding during the 0 - 6 months period
For mothers who still want to consider other contraceptive methods during lactation, the choices are non-hormonal contraceptives such as physical barriers like condom or Intrauterine Devices (IUD) and progestin-only containing pills. Combined hormonal pills with estrogen may decrease breast milk production - thus, it is not recommended for breastfeeding mothers.
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Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for infants 0 - 6 months. However, breastfeeding problems such as inadequate breastfeeding frequency, improper breastfeeding position, poor attachment and ineffective suckling may hinder effective breastfeeding and cause discomfort for the mother. Here are some practical tips for successful breastfeeding:
1. Breastfeed on demand, both day and night (8-12 times) to build up your breast milk supply. Breastfeeding on demand helps the baby get enough milk and helps stimulate continuous milk production. Crying is already a late sign of hunger, thus the early signs that the baby wants to breastfeed include:
● Restlessness
● Opening mouth and turning head from side to side
● Putting tongue in and out
● Suckling on fingers and fists
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Expressing breast milk is important for mothers who experience breast engorgement or when the breasts are full which may cause pain and discomfort and for mothers who want to continue exclusive breastfeeding while working away from home. The expressed breast milk can be stored in a clean container and stored in cool storage for up to 72 hours. It can be given to the baby through cup feeding which is the preferred method over bottle feeding to prevent extra air from being ingested which may cause excessive gas and to preserve the baby’s sucking mechanism when the mother is able to directly breastfeed. Feeding bottles are also unsafe, difficult to wash and can easily be contaminated. The following are the steps on how to express, store and cup feed your baby:
Read more: How to Express Breast Milk and Cup Feed Your Baby
