Breastfeeding Jaundice In Newborns

Newborn jaundice is a condition marked by high levels of bilirubin in the blood. The increased bilirubin causes the infant's skin and whites of the eyes (sclera) to look yellow.

Studies have shown that breastfeeding has numerous benefits for mother and baby, including reducing the risk of common childhood infections. The protective antibodies found in breast milk helps to combat common infections that often leads to missed days from work and translates into lost productivity. In addition, breastfeeding has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of obesity in breastfed children verse children that were not breastfed. Breastfeeding also helps to

Since the beginning of time women have breast fed their infants. Although modern science has developed infant formula, doctors and nurses still recommend women feed their infants breast milk. Breastfeeding increases bonding time between mother and baby and decreases cancer in women. It is hypothesized that breast milk significantly improves babies health and cognitive functioning. Breast feeding is frequently researched and there are multiple sources that cite its benefits.

It is shown that the longer the duration of breastfeeding, the less likely they are to develop these health issues (Godfrey, Lawrence 1598).

Breastfeeding protects babies against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), as well as sepsis in pre-term babies. Breast milk contains antibodies that help babies fight off infections like otitis media and respiratory problems like meningitis and bronchitis. It has been found to reduce the incidence and intensity of atopic diseases. Babies who breastfeed tend to suffer from colds less frequently and have fewer incidents of colic. (Davis)

Premature babies sometimes have apnea. It may happen together with a slow heart rate. Respiratory distress syndrome or RDS is a breathing problem most common in babies born before 34 weeks of pregnancy.” Babies with RDS don’t have a protein called surfactant that keeps small air sacs in the lungs from collapsing. “Intraventricular hemorrhage or IVH is bleeding in the brain. It usually happens near the ventricles in the center of the brain. A ventricles is a space in the brain that’s filled with fluid. Patent ductus ateriosus or PDA is a heart problem that happens in the connection between two major blood vessels near the heart. If the ductus do not close properly after birth, a baby can have breathing problems or heart failure. Heart failure is when enough blood can’t get pumped into the heart causing it to shut down. Necrotizing enter colitis (NEC) is a problem with a baby’s intestines. It causes feeding problems, a swollen belly and diarrhea. It sometimes happens 2 to 3 weeks after a premature bay has been born. Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is an abnormal growth of blood vessels in the eye. ROP can lead to vision loss. Jaundice is when a baby's eyes and skin look yellow. A baby has jaundice when his liver isn't fully developed or isn't working well. Anemia is when a baby doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to the rest of the body. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a lung condition that can develop in premature babies as well as babies who have treatment with a breathing machine. Babies with BPD sometimes develop fluid in the lungs, scarring and lung damage. Premature babies often have trouble fighting off germs because their immune systems are not fully formed. Infections that may affect a premature baby include pneumonia, a lung infection; sepsis, a blood infection; and meningitis, an infection in the fluid around the brain and

The liver produces bile which contains conjugated bilirubin. It is then sent to the gallbladder, and it has to be excreted properly from there. However, the gallstones are blocking the way, which makes it hard for the bilirubin to get out, and results in a build-up. This leads to jaundice, which occurs when one has and excessive amount of bilirubin.

When Amelia was born she was 4 weeks premature and underweight (4 and a half pounds). Amelia would get hungry more often than what the prenatal pamphlets said, “every one to two hours” (My Virtual Child, 2014). Within her 3 week, she was lethargic, and wasn't gaining much weight because she wouldn’t eat. She would cry after every meal and had problems with diarrhea and ingestion. So we started giving her solid foods by the time she was 3 months, as well as breastfeeding. Even after we switched, she was still having problems with indigestion and diarrhea by the time she was 8 months. She was also catching colds a lot. Based on the website, “Babies who are born closer to 32 weeks (just over 7 months) may not be able to eat, breathe, or stay warm on their own. But after these babies have had time to grow, most of them can leave the hospital” (eMedicineHealth, 2017). Since Amelia is a preterm baby, it might be the reason why it she’s

Establish Credibility: My son is now 10 months old, and has been exclusively breastfed since birth. He has never experienced any health issues beyond a common cold. He has never had an ear infection, never experienced diarrhea, asthma, allergies, colic or obesity. It is my strong belief, and statistics back me up, that this is in fact because he is breastfed. I believe I am credible to motivate you to breastfeed your infant or encourage your loved ones to.

Breast milk is widely acknowledged as the complete form of nutrition for infants with a range of benefits for infants’ health, growth, immunity and development (Breastfeeding- Natural Is Best). All these factors can decrease Sudden Infant Death Syndrome(SIDS) and mortality. In serval meta-analyses babies that are breastfeed have a 36% decrease in the risk of SIDS. According to The Lives Saved Tool, an estimated 823,000 yearly deaths would be saved if breastfeeding was scaled up to universal levels. Disorders like necrotizing enterocolitis, that has a high case-fatality, showed a 58% decrease with breastfeeding (Victoria, Cesar G, et all.).

People with this condition are requiring a careful medical management to stay healthy and avoid complications of the illness and often require blood transfusions during significant illness or pregnancy (Children's Hospital Boston). Beta Thalassemia major originally called Cooley's anemia, is the most severe form of beta Thalassemia. It is caused by significant mutations on both of the beta chains. Patients with this illness require frequent blood transfusions to survive. They also require chelating therapy to remove excess iron that can build up in their bodies and cause extensive damage (Children's Hospital Boston).The symptoms of this type include fatigue and weakness, pale skin or jaundice, protruding abdomen with enlarged spleen and liver, dark urine, and abnormal facial bones and poor growth (Clinaero, n.d.).

This paper will explain the benefits of breastfeeding and how it plays an extreme role in the long-term health of a child not only in the early stages of life but also into adulthood and how we as nurses can help promote this mode of nutrition.

Breast-feeding is nutritionally, emotionally and physically superior for a mother and her child. “Human breast milk is not standard nor is it interchangeable with cow’s milk. It is a dynamic fluid that changes in composition to meet the needs of the baby as it grows” (“Giving your Baby... Diet.” par. #10). Breast milk contains growth factors and antibodies which stimulate the growing baby and protect it from illness such as diarrhea, ear infections, rashes, allergies, asthma, skin problems, pneumonia, respiratory illness and other serious illnesses. Breast-feeding also improves a baby’s chance of remaining healthy. These antibodies are not found in formula. They can not be sustained. Breast-fed babies are also neurodevelopmentally more

Mastitis is an infection of the breast connective tissue that occurs primarily in lactating women. The frequent causative organisms are Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus species (Ladewig, London, & Davidson, 2014). The infection begins when bacteria invade the breast tissue after it has been traumatized in some way such as actions that promote bacterial growth, breast or nipple trauma, obstruction of ducts, or changes in breast feeding (Ladewig, London, & Davidson, 2014). Milk fills in as a medium for obtrusive microorganisms, leading to milk stasis as being a risk factor. Infants of women with mastitis generally remain well unless the causative organism is Candida albicans (Ladewig

Rh Incompatibility- During pregnancy, red blood cells from the unborn baby can cross into the mother's blood through the placenta. If the mother is Rh-negative, her immune system treats Rh-positive fetal cells as if they were a foreign substance. The mother's body makes antibodies against the fetal blood cells. These antibodies may cross back through the placenta into the developing baby. They destroy the baby's circulating red blood cells. When red blood cells are broken down, they make bilirubin. This causes an infant to become yellow (jaundiced). The level of bilirubin in the infant's bloodstream may range from mild to dangerously high. Firstborn infants are often not affected unless the mother had past miscarriages or abortions