Jaundice on day 10, should I be worried?

[batfuttocks]

Just that, really. Baby has regained his birthweight today, but is quite jaundiced. Midwife returning on day 14 to reassess. He feeds every two to three hour in the day, seems to settle well after a feed and has been doing 3/4 dirty nappies daily for the last few days. He's quite sleepy but never goes more than 4 hours between feeds. Latch seems reasonable, was painful at first but now ok -although not the perfect latch demonstrated by the bf counsellor I saw.

Have failed to feed 2 previous children due to seemingly low milk supply ( unsettled babies who dropped centimes). Struggling o trust that my body can do this!

[batfuttocks]

*Centiles

[ishchel]

He sounds like he is doing well. Keep getting your milk into him. Nappy output is a good indication of how well he is removing milk which is a good indication that his latch is good. Google Dr Jack Newman who has a great leaflet on breastfeeding and jaundice which ought to help to empower you. Also look at his video which shows how to see when a baby is drinking at the breast and when he is 'nibbling'. Any other questions just keep posting and well done you!

[Wereonourway]

My ds had prolonged, quite severe jaundice due to being prem and quite badly bruised. He had ten days of double phototherapy and was still borderline for treatment when discharged.

He was allowed home due to feeding well on demand and filling his nappy. 3 days after we got home he was so yellow he practically glowed! His bilirubin level did increase again but as he had gained weight we weren't re-admitted.

Putting him sunlight really did help and just keep doing what you are doing, feeding as much as possible.

Bilirubin levels do have to be fairly high to require treatment iirc and breast fed babies do generally take longer to be rid of it.

Am sure all will be fine, perhaps call midwife or health visitor for more reassurance if you feel uncomfortable waiting.

If I can work out how to ill put a pic of 3 week old ds on my profile looking illumionous

[DoItTooJulia]

My ds was jaundiced for aaaages. Never enough to warrant treatment, but even strangers commented on it, it was that bad!

In the end, I was told it was breastfeeding jaundice. I researched it, but never really believed it. He was just jaundiced. He fed well, wet his nappies, pooed his nappies yada yada and it just went on its own.

My advice is to trust your body. It can do it! Keep your eye on the jaundice and if you are at all worried phone the midwife or GP. my midwife didn't discharge me for longer than was normal due to it, so that I could call her if I needed to!

Congratulations!

[Aldwick]

I've got photos of DS at a month old still looking quite 'tangoed' so as long as he is feeding ok and nappies are wet/soiled I really wouldn't panic too much. Get out in the brief sunshine as much as you can and pop the Moses basket by a window - every little helps.

[redcaryellowcar]

Ds had jaundice which lasted beyond his 6 wk check, he had treatment in hospital soon after being born and had a jaundice test at the hospital after his 6 wk check, luckily was diagnosed as breastfeeding jaundice, I.e nothing wrong just taking a while to go, worth following up with gp or mw (think you said you had appointment) and seeing them again if still not gone.
Totally agree with poster above, lots of light, pop them near a window or outside for a stroll for as much of the day as possible and feed just as you are, please do trust your body, sounds like you are doing perfectly. My unhelpfulsil thought it would be useful to tell me that a few bottles of formula would probably clear it up, which may have been true but there was nothing medically wrong he was just a but yellow!

[mrsmartin1984]

It can take a while for the bloods to return to normal. As long as their levels are dropping that's fine.

[batfuttocks]

Thank you for replying. I find it difficult to just trust I will have enough milk - I think I was hoping for a higher weight today (although I realise regaining birthweight by 10 days is good) but the fact he has not been discharged yet was making me over think things. I'm totally following his lead at the moment - but it's (obviously) hard going, especially with two other to take care of, so I didn't want to feel that despite my best efforts we were going down the same route as before.

I will try and keep the faith!!

[ishchel]

At 14 days, my dd1 was still 7% below her birth weight. (Jaundice worsened by the fucked up care and bf 'advice' on the post natal ward.) But hoping that this comparison makes you feel better about your current situation. You are doing fantastic.

[BonaDea]

Don't worry. Jaundice will go. Just feed feed feed. Good luck and many congratulations!

[BonaDea]

P.s. you have enough milk. Only a very tiny percentage of women don't have enough (there might be other problems like latch, tongue tie etc, but it is so unlikely that you don't have enough) - please trust in Mother Nature.

[batfuttocks]

First time around, the latch was appalling (didn't knowing could be better, and midwives all told me it looked fine), baby didnt drain breasts and milk never really came in. I was overwhelmed by everything - not least just being a parent for the first time - and turned to formula within the first month.

Second time I was prepared, read loads about feeding and saw a lactation consultant on day 2. Latch was fine, baby grew but only gained 2-4 oz per week and slowly dropped two centiles. She was miserable and unsettled and I had no time for by firstborn. We tried fenugreek and motilium, and pumping/topping up with expressed milk but really as soon as a bottle was introduced she stopped wanting to feed at the breast and just waited for the bottle: so my milk supply dropped pretty quick. We made it to about four months mix feeding but it was hard going. In hindsight though, i dont think i completely demand fed - I was used to how things had been with my formula fed first born and didn't just go with the growth spurts and cluster feeding, but tried to "stretch" her between feeds at these times and also at night.

This time I am completely demand feeding, co sleeping and things feel like they are going much better. I was feeling very confident about it all until the midwife came! She was lovely and very supportive - as I said, just a confidence wobble. Thank you.

[ishchel]

It is a journey you are on batfuttocks. You did really well with the odds stacked against you the last times. This time will be different and you will be amazed. Enjoy the feedy snuggles. And have you thought of using a sling of some sort to give you some hands free holding so that you can look after your other 2 and everything else that mums do during the day? Every mother deserves a sling. :-)

[diamondsrforever]

My son is just over 4 weeks and we were sent to the hospital last week to have his bloods and urine tested as he is still jaundice, both came back fine so was told its breast milk jaundice and not to worry, he was 8lb 3oz born and the day we were sent to hospital was 10lb 5oz at 3 weeks so has had no problems gaining weight/feeding. Try not to worry