[Breast milk jaundice--a harmless symptom or a reason for stopping breast feeding?]

Increased interest in breast-feeding focuses attention on an undesirable side effect--the breast milk jaundice of the newborn. In this review a complication is given on contemporary knowledge with respect to types of breast milk jaundice, etiology, diagnostic and preventive strategies. Especially the early and late onset types of breast milk jaundice are distinguished. Though of the jaundice-aggravating effect of some human milks, there is no reason to avoid breast-feeding. Improved hospital nursing policies and careful information may help to encourage the mothers to continue in breast-feeding successfully.