Learn about the different colors of breastmilk and the factors that affect the change in color via this informative article.
Whenever we talk about pregnancy, the first thing that strikes the mind is breast milk. However, there are a lot of amazing facts that you may not know about the same. One of those facts is the different coloration of breast milk. If you want to know everything about the different colors of breast milk, you need to read the whole article.
Overview
If you are new to breastfeeding, there might be a conception in your head that breast milk is the same as cow’s milk. This might be the case, but you can also experience a different color. There is nothing to worry about because it is not a cause of concern.
Standard Color of Breast Milk
The breast milk is usually white and has a light appearance. However, sometimes you can see that the breast milk is slightly yellowish or bluish.
Factors Changing the Color of Breast Milk
1. Colostrum
At the very initial stage of giving birth to your child, it may put you in a surprise that your breast milk is thick yellow and not white and light. It is entirely normal, and the mothers produce yellow milk in the first few days of their breastfeeding. This first milk is called colostrum, and it is rich in antibodies. The milk is relatively thicker, and the production of colostrum lasts upto five days after delivery.
2. Diet
The diet that you take at the time of the last stage of your pregnancy has a significant influence on the color of the breast milk that you produce. Simultaneously, what you eat during your breastfeeding phase has a lot to do with the color of your breast milk. For example, if you eat things like carrots and sweet potatoes, there are maximum chances of your breast milk turning yellow.
3. Freezing of Breast Milk
If you take out your breast milk and store it for some time in a refrigerator so you can feed your child quickly, it can also turn the color of breastmilk from white to yellow. This is entirely normal and does not induce a problem in your child.
Different Colors of Breast Milk
1. White Breastmilk
Everyone has different anatomy, and breast milk may vary from person to person. The color of milk is made from dark yellow to light and then from light yellow to white within ten days postpartum.
2. Blue Breastmilk
It is entirely normal to have blue breast milk. A slight bluish color is often noticed at the beginning of the pumping and beginning of nursing. The milk is thinner as compared to the other colors and contains less fat. By the end of the feeding and pumping session, the milk turns yellow or creamy white.
3. Green Breastmilk
There is nothing to be alarmed of when you see your breast color to be green. It is because of the green vegetables or any other green color food like a smoothie that you must have eaten. So instead of worrying about the green color, you should be proud of yourself for taking such a healthy diet during your difficult days.
4. Pink/Red Breastmilk
There are two popular reasons for reddish-pink breast milk:
- First is the diet. When you eat strawberry smoothies, beetroots, and food items with a red pigmentation, the breast milk turns red.
- The second reason is the presence of a trace amount of blood in your breast milk. Even this is not a sign of any problem. You can have any capillary or cracked nipples that bleed inside. However, the bleeding will stop with time as the wound heals. There is no need to pause the breastfeeding process meanwhile.
5. Black Breastmilk
This can be a result of taking any medication during your lactation period. The most common medicine that is found responsible for black breastmilk is minocycline. Before taking any other medicine, make sure that you keep your doctor informed about it. They will tell you some alternate medicine if there is any side effect of the former one.
Takeaway
Since it is already mentioned in the above stages of the article, there is no harm in having any other colors in the breast milk. It is simply a result of what you have eaten during your pregnancy and lactation period. All you need to do is to avoid eating certain things that might harm you. The best method is to get a diet chart designed to keep track of what you eat and how much you eat. As a result, there will be no surprise when some other color appears in breast milk.
This is all we have to impart about the different colors of breast milk. For more information, you can refer to your gynecologist. S/he can advise you on the best things that you can do.
