Brief Answer:
Questions answered one by one

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on Healthcaremagic.

I have gone through your query and understand your concerns. The child before birth has hemoglobin level more than that of the mother, so that oxygen can be derived from the mother to the fetus. This extra hemoglobin breaks down after birth producing the bilirubin. The acceptable bilirubin level varies with age in days and weight in kg. Your doctor is right that phototherapy is not required. You can place the child under morning rays of the sunlight. Nothing else needs to be done.

Let me emphasize on the fact that breast milk is the best possible milk for a baby and there can be no alternatives for the same. Most formula milks are cow milk based and hence difficult to digest. Moreover they make the child more prone to complications and infections. Mother's breast milk is produced on the demand of the baby. Hungrier the baby, more vigorous is the suck. More is the suck, more is the amount of breast milk produced. Giving formula automatically reduces the demand of the baby and thereby the production of breast milk. All you need to do is to switch back to exclusive breast feeding and the production will increase automatically. All you need to do is to monitor the urine output. If the frequency is more than 6 times in 24 hours, you would know that the amount of feeding is adequate. If the amount of passage of urine is less or if the child is lethargic you would need to take the child to a doctor without delay.

So, I would discourage formula feeding. Hence 'how many ml of milk' does not apply. The child will feed from the mother on demand.

Regards

---

Brief Answer:
Explanation provided.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. I am sorry that I would like to strongly disagree with your doctor. Although top feeds with formula milk will indeed make your baby gain weight better, it will compromise the immunity of the child and make her more prone to future ailments like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, asthma etc. So, in short, the disadvantages outweigh the advantage. The rest is upon yourself. Just remember that breast milk is the best possible feed for a baby. It is custom made for the child and the composition varies depending upon the requirement of the baby.

Use of oil does not actually help. It is not absorbed through skin and rather contributes to a development of a body stench. I would not recommend use of oil as of now. However, use of oil does not interfere with jaundice and is unrelated.

Regards

---

Brief Answer:
Explanation provided.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.

Let me assure you that when your child feeds on your breast, it is not only the milk that she seeks, it is also the assurance of a mother's touch that she seeks. If your child sucks from your breast, the breast would be empty in around 20 mins. Any longer such will not be nutritive suckling; it would be just for the sake of the assurance of being in touch with the mother. Needless to say that spoon feeding will not provide any benefit as the milk is not sought anyway, and the personal touch is inevitably missing. I would strongly discourage top feeds.

All you need to do is to monitor the urinary output of the baby. If the baby passes urine for more than 6-8 times in 24 hours, be sure that your baby is getting adequate feeds.

The right nipple needs to be examined. Structural variations are likely to be the cause of her not preferring one breast. However, unless you feed her from both the breasts it will predispose you to developing breast abscess. So beware. Feed alternately from each breast.

Let me know if I could help further.

Regards

---