Jaundice is a result of buildup in the blood of the bilirubin, a yellow pigment that comes from the breakdown of older red blood cells.  It’s normal for the red blood cells to break down, although the bilirubin formed doesn’t normally cause jaundice
because the liver will metabolize it and then get rid of it in the gut.

However, the newborn baby will often become jaundiced during the first few days due to the liver enzyme that metabolizes the bilirubin becoming relatively immature.  Therefore, newborn babies will have more red blood cells than adults, and thus more will break down at any given time.

Breast milk jaundice. There is a condition that’s commonly referred to as breast milk jaundice, although no one knows what actually causes it.  In order to diagnose it, the baby should be at least a week old.  The baby should also be gaining well with breast feeding alone, having lots of bowel movements with the passing of clean urine.

In this type of setting, the baby has what is referred to as breast milk jaundice.  On occasion, infections of the urine or an under functioning of the baby’s thyroid gland, as well as other rare illnesses that may cause the same types of problems.

Breast milk jaundice will peak at 10 – 21 days, although it can last for 2 – 3 months.  Contrary to what you may think, breast milk jaundice is normal.  Rarely, if at all ever, does breast feeding need to be stopped for even a brief period of time. If the baby is doing well on breast milk, there is no reason at all to stop or supplement with a lactation aid.

If you’ve every been pregnant or if you are pregnant now, you’ve probably noticed a metamorphisis in your bra cups.  The physical changes (tender, swollen breasts) may be one of the earliest clues that you have conceived.  Many experts believe that the color
change in the areola may also be helpful when it comes to breast feeding.

What’s going on? Perhaps what’s even more remarkable than visible changes is the extensive changes that are taking place inside of your breasts.  The developing
placenta stimulates the release of estrogen and progesterone, which will in turn stimulate the complex biological system that helps to make lactation possible.

Before you get pregnant, a combination of supportive tissue, milk glands, and fat make up the larger portions of your breats.  The fact is, your newly swollen breasts have been preparing for your pregnancy since you were in your mother’s womb!

When you were born, your main milk ducts had already formed.  Your mammary glands stayed quiet until you reached puberty, when a flood of the female hormone estrogen caused them to grow and also to swell.  During pregnancy, those glands will kick into high gear.

Before your baby arrives, glandular tissue has replaced a majority of the fat cells and accounts for your bigger than before breasts.  Each breast may actually get as much as 1 1/2 pounds heavier than before!

Nestled among the fatty cells and glandular tissue is an intricate network of channels or canals known as the milk ducts.  The pregnancy hormones will cause these ducts to increase in both number and size, with the ducts branching off into smaller canals near the chest wall known as ductules.

At the end of each duct is a cluster of smaller sacs known as alveoli.  The cluster of alveoli is known as a lobule, while a cluster of lobule is known as a lobe.  Each breast will contain around 15 – 20 lobes, with one milk duct for every lobe.

The milk is produced inside of the alveoli, whichis surrounded by tiny muscles that squeeze the glands and help to push the milk out into the ductules.  Those ductules will lead to a bigger duct that widens into a milk pool directly below the areola.

The milk pools will act as resevoirs that hold the milk until your baby sucks it through the tiny openings in your nipples.

Mother Nature is so smart that your milk duct system will become fully developed around the time of your second trimester, so you can properly breast feed your baby even if he or she arrives earlier than you are anticipating.

Not only is breast feeding an adopted baby easy, the chances are that you will produce a large amount of milk. It isn’t complicated to do, although it is different than breast feeding a baby you have been pregnant with for 9 months. There are two objectives that are involved in breast feeding an adopted baby.

The first is getting your baby to breast feed, and the other is producing enough breast milk. There is more to breast feeding than just milk, which is why many mothers are happy to feed without expecting to produce milk in the way the baby needs. It’s the closeness and the bond breast feeding provides that many mothers look for.

Taking the breast might not be easy at first. Even though many feel the early introduction of bottles may interfere with breast feeding, the early introduction of artificial nipples can
interfere a great deal. The sooner you can get the baby to the breast after birth, the better things will be.

Babies will however, require the flow from the breast in order to stay attached and continue to suck, especially if they are used to getting flow from a bottle or other method of feeding.

Producing breast milk is next. As soon as you have an adopted baby in sight,
contact a lactation clinic and start getting your milk supply ready. Keep in mind, you may never produce a full milk supply for your baby, although it may happen. You should
never feel discouraged by what you may be pumping before the baby, as a pump is never quite as good at extracting milk as a baby who is well latched and sucking.

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The sole purpose of breast compression is to continue the flow of milk to the baby once the baby no longer drinks on his own. Compression will also stimulate a let down reflex and often causes a natural let down reflex to occur. This technique may also be useful for the following:
1. Poor weight gain in the baby.
2. Colic in the breast fed baby.
3. Frequent feedings or long feedings.
4. Sore nipples for the mother.
5. Recurrent blocked ducts
6. Feeding the baby who falls asleep quick.

If everything is going well, breast compression may not be necessary. When all is well, the mother should allow the baby to finish feeding on the first side, then if the baby wants more – offer the other side.

How to use breast compression
1. Hold the baby with one arm.
2. Hold the breast with the other arm, thumb on one side of your breast, your finger on the other far back from the nipple
3. Keep an eye out for the baby’s drinking, although there is no need to be obsessive about catching every suck. The baby will get more milk when drinking with an open pause type of suck.
4. When the baby is nibbling or no longer drinking, compress the breast, not so hard that it hurts though. With the breast compression, the baby should begin drinking again.
5. Keep up the pressure until the baby no longer drinks with the compression, then release the pressure. If the baby doesn’t stop sucking with the release of compression, wait a bit before compressing again.
6. The reason for releasing pressure is to allow your hand to rest, and allow the milk to begin flowing to the baby again. If the baby stops sucking when you release the pressure, he’ll start again once he tastes milk.
7. When the baby starts to suck again, he may drink. If not, simply compress again.
8. Continue feeding on the first side until the baby no longer drinks with compression. You should allow him time to stay on that side until he starts drinking again, on his own.
9. If the baby is no longer drinking, allow to come off the breast or take him off.
10. If the baby still wants more, offer the other side and repeat the process as above.
11. Unless you have sore nipples, you may want to switch sides like this several times.
12. Always work to improve the baby’s latch.