Paula:  I believe that the physician is erroneously referring to the
factor in some mother's milk which is believed to cause breastmilk
jaundice.  This is the type of jaundice which begins in the second week of
life and has nothing to do with the early physiologic jaundice in the
first few days, which is due to *lack of* breastmilk.  Since breastmilk
jaundice is *not* a disease, and is probably a normal and possibly even
beneficial process, the factor in mothers' milk which causes it is most
definitely not a poison. This physician needs to be handed a copy of any
one of Dr. Lawrence Gartner's excellent articles on this subject
(see the archives or e-mail me if you want the references).  He clearly
does not understand the physiology of jaundice in newborns.  Good luck,
Alicia Dermer, MD, IBCLC.