India, July 19 -- In many healthy, well-fed babies, this can be due to the harmless condition, breast milk jaundice. However, it is important that the baby be assessed by a paediatrician to ensure that no other cause is missed. Globally, around 60% of full-term newborns and up to 80% of preterm babies develop visible jaundice during the first week of life (1). Studies suggest that around 30-40% of breastfed babies have slightly higher bilirubin levels in the early weeks, even though they are otherwise healthy and feeding well. By the third week of life, only a small proportion of about 2-4% of breastfed babies continue to have higher bilirubin levels (2). This pattern, known as breast milk jaundice, usually settles on its own without stopping breastfeeding. In India, hospital-based studies among newborns with clinical jaundice have reported breast milk jaundice in approximately 2.8 to 3.7% of babies (3). Jaundice is the yellow discolouration of the skin and the white of the eyes due to an increased level of bilirubin, which is produced naturally when red blood cells break down. Newborns commonly develop jaundice because their liver is still maturing and takes time to process bilirubin efficiently. Breast milk jaundice is different. It usually appears after the first 5 to 7 days of life, peaks around the second or third week and then gradually settles. In some babies, a mild yellow tinge may persist for several weeks. The baby, however, remains well, feeds actively, passes urine and stools normally, and gains weight appropriately. It is also important to distinguish breast milk jaundice from 'breastfeeding jaundice', which usually occurs in the first few days when the baby is not receiving enough milk, leading to dehydration and reduced stooling. Breast milk jaundice is usually a diagnosis of exclusion, considered only after ensuring that there are no warning signs or other causes for prolonged jaundice. If jaundice persists beyond two weeks, the paediatrician may advise a bilirubin test, including total and direct or conjugated bilirubin, to rule out liver or bile flow-related problems. Parents should seek urgent medical advice if jaundice appears within the first 24 hours of life, is rapidly increasing, or is associated with poor feeding, excessive sleepiness, fever, abnormal movements, or poor weight gain. Especially important warning signs that should never be ignored are pale or white stools and dark yellow urine staining the diaper. A baby who has fewer wet diapers or is not gaining weight should also be reviewed promptly. Most babies with breast milk jaundice do not need any special treatment. Breast milk jaundice can look worrying because it lasts longer than ordinary newborn jaundice. But if the baby is feeding well, gaining weight, passing normal yellow stools and plenty of urine, and has been reviewed by a paediatrician, it is usually harmless and settles gradually without stopping breastfeeding. 1. Ansong-Assoku B et al. Neonatal Jaundice. StatPearls Publishing, 2026. 2. Bratton S et al. Breast Milk Jaundice. StatPearls Publishing, 2026. 3. Garg Paridhi et al. Sch. J. App. Med. Sci., July 2015...