Thread by @aproko_doctor

It's cold weather now, some mothers and grandmothers will use mentholatum or robb and put on new babies to help them feel warm

Please STOP. This can break down blood cells and cause bilirubin to be released. Excess bilirubin can damage the baby's brain

Please RT to save a life

The usual excuse for this practice is "Ah, the baby is cold, rub it on its chest"

If the temperature around is cold, you can wrap the baby in an extra layer of clothing. Take care not to wrap in too much clothing as this may raise its temperature.

Be guided.

Our red cells contain hemoglobin, this is what helps carry the oxygen from your lungs to other places

When red blood cells are broken down, this haemoglobin is broken down to bilirubin

When this gets to the liver, they are combined with a compound that makes them less harmful

Because this bilirubin is very free, it leaks into the blood stream, this is what makes the eyes and the skin of a baby with excess bilirubin yellow

If it gets too high, it can get into the brain of thay baby, this can lead to seizures, drowsiness, poor feeding or abnormal cries

Also, babies have a special kind of red blood cells at birth that have a short life span.

They also have low concentrations of that binding substance that binds bilirubin in the liver

You're going to argue that your grandmother used it for you and you didn't die. Please dead it