In answer to Jeanette F. Panchula's inquiry and wise comments:  Yes,
prolonged moderate degrees of unconjugated hyperlbilirubinemia - an
extension of physiologic jaundice of the newborn - is a normal phenomenon.
Approximately two-thirds of all breastfed newborns have serum bilirubin
concentrations which are higher than those of artificially-fed infants
during the third to as long as the 16th weeks of life.  Half of these
infants, or one-third of all breastfed infants, will be clinically
jaundiced for much of that time because their serum bilirubin levels are
above 5 mg/dl.  Prolonged unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia is clearly the
norm and, indeed, the artificially-fed infants is "hypObilirubinemic".
While there is evidence that bilirubin is an antioxidant and there is
theory that it protects infants against a number of potential illnesses, we
are still awaiting the results of studies which demonstrate that this
prolongation of jaundice is protective for the infant.
                                        Larry Gartner
PLEASE NOTE NEW AREA CODE FOR PHONE & FAX

Lawrence M. Gartner, M.D.
Professor of Pediatrics and Obstetrics/Gynecology
The University of Chicago
MC6060
5841 S. Maryland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
Phone: (773) 702-0389
FAX: (773) 702-0764
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]