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FAQ » Faq about Baby Diseases |
| 1. Is it true that eating ginger while breastfeeding will cause baby to be jaundiced? |
| Jaundice occurs as a result of raised levels of bilirubin in baby's blood stream and the immature liver. However, if you breastfeeding, do remember that a small amount of everything you eat will be transferred to baby. Although there has not been any conclusive evidence to relate the two, do remember that ginger is a herb. Anything taken in excessive quantities may not be beneficial to you or the baby. |
| 2. Is it true eating carrots and papaya during pregnancy will cause jaundice in my newborn? |
Papaya and carrot will not cause jaundice as these foods contain beta-carotenes which are different from bilirubin. Eating excessive amounts of food that contain beta-carotenes may cause your skin to have a yellowish tinge but that is NOT jaundice. Always remember to have variety of food in your diet be it during pregnancy or after delivery. Excessive amounts of any particular type of food should be avoided. |
| 3. Is it true that feeding my baby ‘pearl powder’, bathing her in yellow fruit flower water or rubbing her yellow fruit flowers will help prevent or cure jaundice? |
Bathing baby in traditional herbal water or self-medicating baby MAY actually complicate the jaundice and put her at greater risk. A physiological jaundice is due to the temporary increase of bilirubin in the blood due to an immature liver, any un-prescribed treatment or medication MAY further increase the workload to the liver. It is therefore best to leave the prescribing of treatment to the doctor. |
| 4. I was told to stop breastfeeding, as it will cause jaundice, is this true? |
Breastfeeding does not cause physiological jaundice. Inadequate breastfeeding MAY aggravate physiological jaundice. A condition known as breast milk jaundice exists but this only develops a week or so after birth. Breast milk jaundice occasionally occurs in babies who are exclusively breastfed. The exact cause of the jaundice is uncertain but severe breast milk jaundice is very rare. Unless baby’s jaundice is at a dangerous level, there is no real necessity to stop breastfeeding, but do feel free to discuss your concerns with your doctor or lactation consultant. |
| 5. Should I feed baby water when she is jaundiced? |
Although it is important that all babies, especially jaundiced babies, must be well hydrated, it is better to let baby remain on a milk diet. Water is just plain fluid without the nutrients that baby needs. Milk, on the other hand, is packed with water and goodness and helps baby to eliminate the bilirubin more effectively. |
