Why does breast milk jaundice occur?

Breast milk jaundice is usually caused by breast milk or neonatal factors.

1. Breast milk factors: Breast milk factors are usually due to the high level of β-glucuronidase in breast milk, which increases the separation of intestinal glucuronic acid and bilirubin in the intestine, allowing unconjugated bilirubin to be absorbed by the intestine again, thereby increasing the burden on the liver and causing breast milk jaundice.

2. Neonatal factors: If the uridine diphosphate glucuronyl transferase in the liver of the newborn is relatively abundant, it will affect the liver's ability to process bilirubin and cause symptoms of breast milk jaundice.

The main symptom of the child is yellowing of the skin. Generally, breast milk jaundice does not require treatment. The symptoms of jaundice can be significantly alleviated 24 to 48 hours after stopping feeding. If the child's bilirubin level reaches the phototherapy standard, phototherapy can be performed under the guidance of a doctor, which can reduce the unconjugated bilirubin content in the serum and make the skin jaundice disappear. The prognosis of breast milk jaundice is generally good, and only a few children will develop bilirubin encephalopathy.