Risk factors for hyperbilirubinemia in breastfed term neonates

Increased breastfeeding was suggested as a contributing factor to significant hyperbilirubinemia. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors associated with jaundice in exclusively breastfed term neonates. We retrospectively reviewed all consecutively live-born neonates from August 2009 to July 2010 who had complete outpatient department (OPD) follow-up at ≤14 days old. Hyperbilirubinemia was defined as a transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) value of ≥15 mg/dl. During the study period, there were 718 deliveries, of which 152 neonates were transferred to the special care nursery or neonatal intensive care unit; 566 neonates were discharged from the nursery, and 243 neonates were excluded: 83 did not return to the OPD, 46 were older than 14 days at OPD follow-up, 44 were <37 weeks of gestational age, and 70 had been fed formula. In total, 323 neonates were enrolled and classified into the hyperbilirubinemic (114 neonates) and non-hyperbilirubinemic groups (209 neonates). The gender, gestational age, Apgar score, age at nursery discharge, birth weight, and body weight at nursery discharge and at OPD were comparable between the two groups. TcB values at nursery discharge were positively correlated with TcB values in the OPD. Infants with hyperbilirubinemia exhibited significantly greater body weight loss from birth to the OPD follow-up and significantly less body weight gain from nursery discharge to OPD follow-up.

High TcB values at nursery discharge and a smaller body weight gain are associated with hyperbilirubinemia in term neonates who are exclusively breastfed.