Infant jaundice is a very common condition that many mothers fear is caused by breast milk, and it is also common for doctors in China to instruct mothers to suspend breastfeeding. Is this really scientific? Here are the best ways to treat jaundice, as recognized by three of the nation’s most respected authorities. Ignore advice to suspend breastfeeding Healthy babies usually do not need any treatment or therapy for skin tests with a bilirubin of 20 or less; mothers should ignore any advice to stop breastfeeding because breast milk jaundice does not require stopping breastfeeding, and breast milk is especially important for your baby’s health if your baby is super jaundiced due to any illness. Some doctors may recommend suspending breastfeeding for a day or two for babies with hyper-jaundice. This is not necessary, but if parents decide to follow instructions, avoid bottle-feeding formula to prevent nipple confusion and opt for small spoons, cups, nursing aids, etc. Jaundice can make babies sleepy, so remember to wake them up for feedings. When you have jaundice, the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendation is to intensify breastfeeding. The American Academy of Pediatrics is clearly against feeding water, sugar water or any non-milk liquids to jaundiced babies. This is because not only does it not reduce the rate of intestinal bilirubin excretion, but it can worsen the jaundice. This is because an infant with a glucose-filled digestive tract will have no appetite for milk and will eat less frequently and in lower amounts, thus affecting the excretion of bilirubin. Some doctors in China recommend stopping breastfeeding for jaundiced babies, but the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend this. Instead they recommend that the frequency of breastfeeding should be increased to a guaranteed 12 times a day, and that hospitals should increase monitoring of jaundiced babies. Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (a government agency) and the U.S. National Library of Medicine agree with the American Academy of Pediatrics on this point. Guidance on the need for blue light and standards If blue light is needed, ask your doctor about the availability of a blue light blanket and other equipment for blue light at home, and do not readily hospitalize your baby for blue light. It is also recommended that if your jaundiced baby needs phototherapy, you should first try to ensure breastfeeding. Suspension of breast milk may be an option, but is never necessary or essential. Guidance on the criteria for a baby with jaundice requiring systemic blue light: Five days after birth, a healthy baby born at 38 weeks or more with a skin test bilirubin over 21, a baby born at 38 weeks or more with a high risk of pathological jaundice or a baby born at 35-37 weeks with a bilirubin over 18, or a baby born at 35-37 weeks with a high risk of pathological jaundice with a bilirubin over 15. Many doctors in China have a much lower standard for a baby requiring blue light than the American Academy of Pediatrics According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, if the jaundice value drops to 13-14, the baby should definitely be discharged from the hospital. Perhaps the sources of knowledge are different. We recommend that mothers adopt the standards of the American Academy of Pediatrics, as it is the most internationally recognized organization in pediatrics. Stopping breastfeeding to confirm a diagnosis of breast milk jaundice is a “Chinese specialty”. None of the guidance from the three U.S. authorities mentioned the need to stop breastfeeding to confirm the diagnosis of breast milk jaundice. Their thinking is that the first step is to determine if the child has other diseases, and there are clear tests to rule out disease so that the mother can feed without worry. Breast milk jaundice does not make any sense even if the diagnosis is confirmed by stopping feeding, because it does not need to be treated or handled. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations for neonatal jaundice: intensify the number of feedings to ensure 12 daily, jaundice does not usually constitute a reason to stop breastfeeding, the incidence of breast milk jaundice is about 1 in 200 babies, and there is basically no possibility of affecting the baby’s health whether treatment is given or not.