Starvation Jaundice and Brain Injury in Underfed Breastfed Newborns

Lecture Delivered by Dr. Lawrence Gartner, Director of Baby-Friendly USA

This is a lecture provided to lactation consultants at a prominent breastfeeding conference given by Baby-Friendly USA Director, Dr. Lawrence Gartner, who discussed the risk of brain injury from starvation-related jaundice, called kernicterus, 90% of which occurs to breastfed babies who lose excessive weight, according to his lecture. Yet despite this training, no information on the risk of preventable brain injury from starvation-related jaundice in breastfed newborns exists in patient-directed breastfeeding literature published by breastfeeding advocacy groups other than our own.

 

To learn more about safe and ethical infant feeding support and prevention of breastfeeding complications, hospitalizations and injury, please click the following link to see Dr. del Castillo-Hegyi’s Grand Rounds presentation on the Dangers of Insufficient Exclusive Breastfeeding.

Next: Dangers of Insufficient Exclusive Breastfeeding