<< I think the key word here is "high". I was under the impression that in a
 normal, full-term healthy baby, nothing under 20-25 would be considered
 "high"... Comments?
 Judy LeVan Fram, Brooklyn, NY >>

I actually heard Dr. Lawrence Gartner speak today in Holyoke, MA on just this
subject!  He stated that in a healthy, full-term bf infant, moderate levels
of elevated serum unconjugated bilirubin do not require any treatment, and
that after 72 hours of age, levels of up to 18 to 20 mg/dl in those healthy
infants do not require supplementation with formula or interruption of bfing,
nor is phototherapy necessary.  When these levels exceed 20, observation
should be done to assess whether the bilirubin is continuing to rise.
Treatment should be considered if levels continue to rise over 20.  He also
stated that physiologic jaundice may persist for up to two months and
elevated serum unconjugated bilirubin concentrations for up to 4 months.

Ruth Scuderi
Westfield, MA

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