Physiologic Jaundice is a common condition that afflicts a lot of babies - especially Asian babies. I don’t know why Asian babies are more susceptible, I just know that they are. It is caused by the breakdown of excess red blood cells that the baby no longer needs after birth. Because the baby’s liver is still immature and unable to cope with the workload, the baby develops jaundice.

The condition can be worse if the baby undergoes a traumatic delivery, such as one that required a vacuum or forceps extraction. The use of certain drugs, like pitocin (used for induction) during delivery can also increase the severity of jaundice experienced by the baby.

Physiologic jaundice is a common condition and nothing to be too concerned about unless the bilirubin levels are dangerously high. A baby normally presents with physiologic jaundice around day three after birth.

Another condition called pathologic jaundice usually develops within twenty-four hours after the delivery. This is the condition you should be worried about. You can read more about about pathologic jaundice from Dr Greene’s site.

As a new mother still enduring the raging hormones and seeing your baby looking like this:

You should be forgiven for feeling like the world’s about to end when your baby develops a mild case of physiologic jaundice. It doesn’t help when you get a lot of unnecessary advice from well-meaning friends and relatives either (especially the ones that make you feel like your baby is tragically ill).

If you’re breastfeeding your baby, please do not let anyone convince you that:

• Your milk is causing the jaundice and you should stop breastfeeding
• You don’t have enough milk and need to supplement with formula (unless it’s your paediatrician talking)
• You’ve got to give water even after your matured milk has come in

This was my experience:

My baby developed jaundice on day 2 when I was still only producing colostrum. Colostrum has a consistency of runny honey and does not provide a lot of fluid content. It’s what your breasts produce for the first three to four days after delivery. During this period, you do have to supplement your baby with water to help baby flush out the bilirubin that’s broken down by the UV lights.

From what I’ve read, this is what I understand:

The reason water is required is because the UV lights breaks down bilirubin into products that are excreted by the kidneys, therefore baby’s fluid volume needs to be increased especially in the early days when baby is only consuming colostrum. Later on, when baby’s body is breaking down bilirubin, most of it is excreted through the faeces so supplementation with water is not necessary. By this time your matured milk will be in and since breastmilk is about 90% water, you really don’t need to supplement with water.

From my experience, a lot of the older generation insisted otherwise and it was a real challenge to stand my ground and be firm that water was not necessary. I wanted to share this experience because there were plenty of times I nearly caved thinking it would be best for my baby to heed their advice and give him water. After three days of UV light treatment and supplementation (and I was still breastfeeding baby in the meantime), I was able to take baby home and the jaundice eventually cleared while Gavin was exclusively on breastmilk.

It is true that in breastfed babies it takes longer for the jaundice to clear but it will clear eventually. Unless baby is looking more yellow, there is no need to be concerned once the doctor gives baby the okay to go home. It usually takes up to a month for jaundice to clear in breastfed babies.

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