I have been calling "breastfeeding jaundice" (the early type) "not
enough breastmilk jaundice" for years.  I don't think that I am the
first to call it something like that either.  I agree that
"breastfeeding jaundice" is a poor choice as a name, as it could
suggest to impressionable young resident minds that it would be a good
idea to stop breastfeeding.  That's the exact wrong thing to do.

Of course, "lack of breastmilk jaundice" can last past the first week,
because poor feeding can last past the first week, but I have always
been fascinated that the baby who is not gaining well on breastmilk
alone is usually *not* jaundiced, but the one who is is usually just
detectably jaundiced ("normal bilirubinemia of the normally fed
baby").  The artificially fed baby, of course, is not normally
bilirubinemic because he is not getting physiologic food ("formula
feeding hypobilirubinemia").

Would be pleased to do a guest editorial, but have to be asked, don't
I?

Jack Newman, MD,FRCPC