And in rare, extreme cases, the pressure to exclusively breastfeed has resulted in the accidental dehydration and starvation of infants who could not get enough nutrition from breastfeeding. Severe dehydration in newborns is rare but can vary according to region, she noted in a 2016 post for the site Breastfeeding Medicine, a blog for doctors writing about breastfeeding. Immediately, her doctor prescribed bilirubin lights to treat the jaundice, and told Mary to start supplementing with formula milk. There’s no need to apply a one-size-fits-all approach to breastfeeding, as many hospitals have done in the past, Smith said. Unless a mother is at high risk of insufficient breast milk supply, or a baby exhibits signs of dehydration or starvation, there’s no reason to follow up with a bottle.

Source: Huffington Post March 08, 2017 21:22 UTC