If you ever wonder, what does breast milk taste like, you are at the right place to gather every piece of knowledge about breast milk!
Breast milk is the human milk, which is produced by the mammary glands of the breast once a woman has given birth to a child. However, some women who have never been pregnant or even men can produce milk at some point in their life. Breast milk is full of antibodies that help your kid to fight off viruses and bacterias. If you keep feeding your baby for six months, the chances of certain diseases are reduced to a lower probability. Breast milk is easier to digest by a baby’s weak stomach and contains the right amount of nutrients to help the child in its growing phase.
Many bodybuilders are also consuming it for its health benefits. Whether you’re wondering how it tastes or wish to give it a try, discover everything in this detailed article about breast milk and what does breast milk taste like.
Nutrition Facts (per 100gm)
- Fat- 4.4g
- Cholesterol- 14 mg
- Sodium- 17 mg
- Potassium- 51 mg
- Carbohydrate- 7g
- Vitamin A- 4%
- Calcium- 3%
- Vitamin C- 8%
- Cobalamin- 1%
When Does A Women Lactate?
Usually, milk production in the body, as signaled by the hormones, begins during the mid of your pregnancy. It is likely to start within one or two weeks of the pregnancy. That is why sore breasts are the first sign of pregnancy that you might notice. After you give birth, you can start feeding your baby right after your doctor asks you to. Your lactation period will last for as long as you continue to breastfeed your child regularly. Yet it varies to every woman and can last for up to 2 years for a larger population of women. It is quite possible for women who haven’t been pregnant or even men to lactate due to hormonal changes, as mentioned before.
What Does Breast Milk Taste Like?
For most of the people, breast milk tastes like regular milk but with some sweetness. Mothers or people who have tasted the milk said it tastes a little bit like almond milk and with a thick texture.
Having said this, the taste of breast milk varies from person to person due to many reasons. The taste of the milk can change according to what you eat. For example, if you eat onions, ice cream, banana, or anything else, your milk can have a hint of your food. Medications can affect the taste of the milk too. Therefore, it all depends on what you eat!
What does it smell like?
Generally speaking, breast milk can smell the same a cow’s milk but a little sweeter and milder. But when you freeze and defrost it, it’s likely to emit a sour and soapy smell. But there’s nothing to worry about as it’s normal for a defrosted breast milk to smell that way.
Why Breast Milk Is Sweet?
Lactose is one type of sugar that is present in every human milk, and in some way, it is also responsible for the sweet taste. When there’s a considerable amount of lactose present in the milk, it will taste sweet. However, lactose isn’t the sweetest sugar, and it leaves no impact on the taste when present in a small amount.
Tasting Your Breast Milk
Yes, you can taste your breast milk. If you accidentally leak while bathing or any other activity, consider tasting a drop or two to know what your baby has been eating ever since it’s born. Or rather, you can use a breast milk pump to pump some of the milk and taste it or store it for the baby when you can’t feed them directly!
Can Your Partner Try Your Breast Milk?
Your partner can undoubtedly try your breast milk; there’s nothing wrong with it. In fact, it’s healthy too if they drink it, but we would suggest you to keep it solely for your baby and not for grown-ups. Moreover, feeding your partner might get you turned on, which is a common side effect.
Where Can I Get Some Breast Milk?
Unfortunately, if the mother isn’t there to feed the baby, you can ask the hospital to offer some milk from a donor. Alternatively, you can buy the milk from milk banks, possibly from HMBANA milk bank or any other association. And if you wish to taste breast milk out of curiosity, it’s better to ask your partner if there’s an understanding between you two. Otherwise, asking a female relative or any female for their milk isn’t a great idea!
What Affects The Taste Of Breast Milk
1. Food Habits
As said earlier, the taste of your milk depends mainly upon what you choose to eat. The milk will carry the flavor of anything and everything that you eat. Therefore, a lactating mother should eat healthy during the nursing period.
2. Smoking
If you smoke, it’s highly likely that your milk will carry the smell as well as the taste of the cigarette. It is dangerous to your baby’s health, so it’s advisable to quit smoking for your baby as well as your health. Yet if you choose to smoke, consider doing it right after you feed the baby and take a break of at least two hours before smoking again.
3. Medications
If you’re on certain medicines or vitamins, your baby can taste them through your milk. Not to mention that if the baby doesn’t like the taste, it will stop drinking the milk altogether. If you made specific changes in your medication intake recently and noticed that your baby has stopped breastfeeding, contact your doctor!
4. Ointments/Creams
If you’ve been applying creams, oils, or any other ointments to your breasts, the taste of it will be transferred to your baby. Hence, wash the area properly before nursing your baby.
5. Mastitis
“Mastitis is an inflammation of the breast tissues that sometimes involves infection,” says Mayoclinic. It can make the milk taste a little bit too salty besides causing pain in your breasts. If you notice any symptoms of mastitis, consult your doctor immediately.
Benefits Of Breast Milk
1. Reduces Disease Risks
It may reduce the risk of many diseases in your baby like ear infections, respiratory problems, gut infections, diabetes, child leukemia, and common cold and flu, among others. This is because of its abundance in antibodies that shield your baby and give it enough strength to fight against such viruses.
2. Promotes Healthy Weight
Leptin, a hormone that helps in regulating appetite and fat, is present in high amount in breast milk. That’s why breastmilk fed babies are safe from the risk of child obesity. Not just this, it helps your child to gain a healthy amount of weight as per the age!
3. Source Of Nutrition
Breast milk contains the right amount of nutrients and minerals that your baby requires for healthy growth. As a result, the World Health Organization recommends mothers feed only breast milk for least six months and after that, till 2 years combined with solid food.
Just like a mother is the primary source of baby’s well being while it’s in the womb, a mother’s milk is the source of its growth and well being when it comes to the real world. Feed your baby with your milk and don’t rely on formula-based milk as they can not be as nutritious and might not even protect your baby from any potential disease. When a baby is born, their immune system is weak, and breastfeeding helps to strengthen it to its full capacity!
Bonus – What People Say About the Taste of Breast Milk?
We talked to some people for you to collect some interesting responses for you on breast milk taste. Check out:
“I tasted my breastmilk when after a shower, I was leaking a few drops of milk from my right breast. It kind of tasted similar to a mild cream, and it didn’t emit any particular odor too.” – Tina James
“My breast milk tasting experience was when my baby out of nowhere stopped all of a sudden, and I was still leaking; it kind of tasted like frosted flake milk.”- Isabelle Watson
“One of my friends who tasted her milk said that her breast milk’s taste changed every time she experimented with her diet.”- Rupert Davis
“I and my wife were having a moment when I first tasted breast milk; it tasted similar to a vanilla ice cream” – Smith Wilson
“Every time I change my diet, I experience a different breast milk taste. If I eat chocolates and more sweet things, it tastes sweeter than ever…”- Sophia Miller
“If I eat garlic, it tastes like garlic; if I eat candies, it tastes like candies; I don’t know the connection, but I think my diet changes the taste.”- Olivia
“My wife used to smoke, and the doctors told her not to do so as my baby can taste it as well. She didn’t believe them until I tasted her milk after smoking. It’s now that she realizes what she has done and have stopped smoking for the baby’s sake ever since….” Oliver Paige
