usually easily controlled. However, it could develop into a dangerous
situation if ignored or left untreated. If the condition appears more
pronounced after the second day, frequent blood tests are done and
conservative treatment initiated.
Babies with moderately raised levels of bilirubin are sometimes
treated with special fluorescent lights that help to break down the yellow
pigment. Also part of treatment is an increase in fluid intake. In this case
your pediatrician may recommend other liquid supplements although
exclusive breast-feeding is usually the best way to correct this condition,
even feeding as often as every two hours. Because bilirubin is eliminated
in the stool, make sure your baby has passed his first stool (meconium).
Your doctor will determine the program of treatment best suited for your
baby. Because a newborn with jaundice will tend to sleep more, be sure to
wake your baby for feeding at least every 3 hours.
Breast Versus Bottle
We know the nutritional and health benefit disparity between breast milk
and formula over the first twelve weeks of baby’s life is substantial. By
six months of age, this disparity remains. However, it is to a lesser degree
than in the first twelve weeks. Between six and nine months, the
difference between what is best and what is good continues to narrow.
That is partly due to the fact that other food sources are now introduced
in your baby’s diet. Between nine and twelve months, the nutritional
value of breast milk drops and food supplements are usually needed.
Going beyond a year in our society is done more out of a preference for
nursing than an absolute nutritional need. Nonetheless, the American
Academy of Pediatrics encourages mothers to breastfeed at least a year.
When it comes to nourishing baby, mother’s milk is clearly superior
to formula. Now for the stickier issue of nurturing. Is breast superior to
bottle? In times past, experts said yes. Stressing the value of breast-
feeding, they associated bottle-feeding with child rejection. Considered to
be lacking warmth, a bottle-feeding mom was accused of renouncing her
biological role as a woman and her emotional role as a mother. Others