Question:
A term baby on breastfeeding has a serum bilirubin of 14 mg/dL. Which of the following is true?
A term baby on breastfeeding has a serum bilirubin of 14 mg/dL. Which of the following is true?
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At 14 mg/dL in a well term baby, is any aggressive therapy due yet?
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
- Exchange transfusion
- Continue to breastfeed
- Phototherapy
- None
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The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Answer: Continue to breastfeed.
Step 1: This is a term, otherwise well baby with a total serum bilirubin of 14 mg/dL. That level is below the usual phototherapy threshold for a term infant.
Step 2: Breastfed babies are commonly more jaundiced than formula-fed ones. The key management step is to support and increase the frequency of feeds (more than 10 per day) to improve hydration and bilirubin clearance, not to stop the breast.
Step 3: Phototherapy is generally not started at this level in a term baby (usually reserved when total serum bilirubin is around or above 15 mg/dL and rising). Exchange transfusion is far away and is for very high levels with risk of kernicterus.
Step 4: So the correct action here is to continue breastfeeding. Ref: AAFP, Hyperbilirubinemia in the newborn.
Step 1: This is a term, otherwise well baby with a total serum bilirubin of 14 mg/dL. That level is below the usual phototherapy threshold for a term infant.
Step 2: Breastfed babies are commonly more jaundiced than formula-fed ones. The key management step is to support and increase the frequency of feeds (more than 10 per day) to improve hydration and bilirubin clearance, not to stop the breast.
Step 3: Phototherapy is generally not started at this level in a term baby (usually reserved when total serum bilirubin is around or above 15 mg/dL and rising). Exchange transfusion is far away and is for very high levels with risk of kernicterus.
Step 4: So the correct action here is to continue breastfeeding. Ref: AAFP, Hyperbilirubinemia in the newborn.
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