Hi. In the article in Pediatrics it states that babies fed breastmilk have 
more jaundice than babies fed formula.  It needs to be stated--babies who 
are not fed ENOUGH breastmilk have more jaundice!  The current research 
shows that the more a baby breastfeeds the lower the bilirubin. Babies fed 
more than 9 times in the first 24 hours do not have elevated bilis on day 6 
and babies fed 12x per day have bilis of 5 on day three. Skin-to-skin 
increases the frequency of feeds and stimulates the gut- more stooling- to 
name a couple benefits of s-to-s!

Using a "medicine" to lower bilis is so typical-treat the problem instead 
of preventing it in the first place. The medical profession needs to see 
elevated bilis in breastfed babies as a red flag that something is not 
right. Breastmilk and breastfeeding is not the problem--current 
breastfeeding practice is the problem. Babies born without intervention who 
receive continuous s-to-s do not have elevated bilis (I know there are 
exceptions-I am not talking about those). But, I guess it is just easier to 
give a medication. :-(

Christine Lichte, IBCLC, LLL Leader

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