Breast milk plays an important role in the development of a child's immunity. It is this that helps the baby form the intestinal microflora and helps the immune system establish a response to the invasion of foreign particles. Therefore, breastfeeding is considered extremely important for the prevention of all diseases of young and adulthood without exception. The question of what color breast milk should be normally worries many mothers. After all, by color you can judge the composition and its suitability for drinking.
The composition is individual for each woman. The concentration of substances can change even during the day. Over time, it acquires a more permanent, stable composition, as if adapting to the needs of the child.
The composition is also adjusted to the time of year. So, in summer, milk is more liquid and transparent. This is due to the fact that in the hot months the child’s need for water increases and the need for nutrients decreases. Therefore, children do not need additional water if they regularly receive breastfeeding.
Along with the change in composition, the color also changes. Many mothers notice this and begin to worry. Let's figure out what color breast milk should be, what the color depends on, and when to start worrying.
Colostrum color
Transitional mother's milk appears immediately after the end of colostrum production, which occurs during the process of bearing the baby. Normally, colostrum is yellow in color with a creamy tint, which is largely due to its high fat content.
The taste of colostrum can range from slightly salty to a sweet sensation. The color of the first breast milk interests many people.
Transitional milk may take on a white tint, and its consistency often becomes liquid. The appearance and consistency of breast milk can be assessed by using a breast pump. Sometimes transitional milk has a yellowish tint, which is also considered normal. The color of a young mother's breast milk is influenced by the following factors:
- Features of the emotional and physical state of a woman.
- Alcohol and smoking abuse.
- Eating smoked meats, as well as spicy and salty foods.
Period of “transitional” milk
The colostrum period lasts up to 5 days, since the baby develops at a fairly high speed, the need for food and its quantity increases. The child begins to “ask” for the breast more and more often. It is frequent application that is a signal that it is time to increase the production of mammary gland secretions. This begins the process of formation and production of breast milk. This stage takes about a week or two. This period is also called the period of “transitional” milk.
The mammary glands are still increasing in volume, the glandular tissue is being rebuilt and preparing for long-term work. Colostrum gradually loses its thickness and becomes more liquid, becoming white. The composition also changes. The concentration of immune bodies decreases, but the amount of carbohydrates and fats increases. The concentration of B vitamins involved in the formation of the nervous system increases. Now feeding is aimed not so much at adaptation and immune protection of the baby’s body, but at optimal growth and development of all systems and organs.
The amount of milk also increases. In the first days, there may be constant heavy leakage of milk. This is due to the fact that the body has not yet synchronized the process of milk production with the needs of the baby. It will take about a month for this process to stabilize. There is no need to reduce the number of feedings, because the amount of milk will decrease and eventually the growing baby will not have enough of it. The best option is feeding on demand, then the baby will be constantly full, will receive as much milk and nutrients as his body requires, and the nursing mother will not have to constantly pump or suffer from the pain of breasts overflowing with milk.
Ripe milk color
Not everyone knows what color breast milk should be. The color range of mother's mature milk can be very variable. This indicator directly depends on the individual characteristics of the female body, and, in addition, on the location of the product in the mammary glands (rear or anterior).
Hind and foremilk
Let's figure out what color breast milk should be depending on whether it is anterior or posterior.
Foremilk is located closest to the excretory duct of the mammary glands. This product has a liquid consistency along with a transparent whitish tint. It contains vitamins, and, in addition, milk sugar (that is, lactose) and plain water. The function of the mother's foremilk is to replenish the newborn's needs for the required amount of fluid.
After fifteen to twenty minutes of active sucking, hindmilk begins to enter the duct, which already has a thick consistency with a white color. This product contains a huge complex of nutritional components that replenish the baby’s energy needs.
If the baby refuses the mother's breast and does not wait for the rear portion to arrive, the woman is not recommended to offer the baby a second breast. When children consume only the front portions of milk, they develop indigestion. For the same reasons, slow weight gain is observed among newborns.
What color is breast milk if lactation stops?
What is in breast milk?
Surprisingly, breast milk is 87% water.
It is easily digestible, so the baby does not need to give additional food. Breast milk is rich in lactose. Thanks to it, the child’s body absorbs iron and calcium, and the central nervous system is formed. Breast milk also contains fats that are beneficial for the baby's body. Moreover, their highest concentration is in the milk that the baby sucks at the end of feeding. That's why experts don't recommend weaning your baby early. In addition to fats and lactose, breast milk contains potassium, sodium, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium and other valuable microelements.
Upon termination of lactation
When it's time to stop breastfeeding, mom's milk takes on a different consistency and color. The main function of such a product is the formation of immunity in the body of a newborn. During the involution stage, breast milk is yellow in color and resembles colostrum.
It is important to remember that changes in color can be caused by the use of certain medications. The use of products that contain food coloring can also affect the color of a young mother's milk. Next, let's try to figure out what color breast milk is normal.
Is pink milk due to beets?
As one woman wrote in the comments, “one day a friend of mine overdid it with beets...” Indeed, some foods with their pigments can change the color of human urine, milk and other liquids. Also, chemical dyes are added to some products, which can then affect the color of the milk. There have been several cases of breast milk turning green due to the multivitamins the mother was taking.
But in this case, the mother did not eat anything like that, and the effect has not gone away for more than a week...
Milk color is normal
Bluish, white or yellow milk color is normal; the presence of these shades is often caused by changes in milk composition at different stages of lactation. Colostrum usually has a yellow or orange tint. As for the color of mature breast milk (pictured), it is normally pale and slightly blue. And at the natural end of lactation, milk turns yellow, after which it soon stops being produced altogether. Now let's move on to consider the reasons why milk changes color.
Is pink milk due to bacteria?
And here, it seems, we have come to the crux of the problem.
In 2014, a study was published that described how exactly a bacterium called Serratia marsescens turns women's breast milk pink. The work described two cases very similar to what we see in the photo.
Serratia marsescens is a bacterium that is usually harmless. Side effects from its “work” are red rings around sewer drains, which can be observed in almost every corner of the world. In humans, this bacterium is a normal inhabitant of children's gastrointestinal tracts.
S. Marsescens bacteria are usually non-pathogenic, but in hospitals they can cause illnesses such as urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, wound inflammation, conjunctivitis, keratitis, pneumonia and even meningitis.
So, it is this bacterium that can “colonize” breast milk, in which it begins to produce the reddish-pink pigment prodigiosin at room temperature. This color change is then observed in bottles, breast pumps, and towels. Mom can leave the milk in the bottle overnight, come in the morning and gasp in surprise!
Are these bacteria dangerous for children?
- For children on breastfeeding, these bacteria in milk are not dangerous in small quantities.
- Moderate bacterial growth can cause milk intolerance.
- And a large number of bacteria in milk is already potentially dangerous, especially for premature babies.
Medical journals have documented an outbreak of Serratia in a Scottish NICU where 17 infants were infected through breast pumps and two infants died (see PubMed PMID: 11170764).
Infections of >1000 gram-negative bacteria per milliliter are associated with nutritional intolerance; higher levels (>1,000,000/ml) may be associated with sepsis.
By eating milk from the mother's breast, the child will most likely receive minimal doses of this bacterium. If the mother feeds the baby with expressed milk, then such milk at least cannot be stored at room temperature, but must be cooled so that bacteria do not multiply. How to store expressed milk?
Reasons for changes in milk color
In some situations, a woman may discover that her milk looks unusual, namely, it has an unusual color. Here are the possible reasons for such changes:
What color should breast milk be?
First, we need to consider what the fluid secreted by the mammary glands of women should be. All mothers should study this topic carefully and find out how the product looks in the photo so that she knows whether her milk is normal.
The color and thickness of the secreted fluid depend on what stage of lactation the woman is at and whether external factors influenced her. For example, in the last stages of pregnancy and in the first days after birth, yellowish and sticky colostrum is released. In the first weeks there is white (with a slight tint of blue), but quite liquid transitional milk. Then comes the turn of mature milk - a thick, light (snow-white or cream) product.
Table: changes in composition during different periods of lactation
| Component | Colostrum(days 1–5) | Transitional milk (6–14 days) | Mature milk (from day 15) |
| Protein, g | 2,3 | 1,6 | 1,1 |
| Fat, g | 2,6 | 3,5 | 4,5 |
| Lactose, g | 5,7 | 6,4 | 6,8 |
| Energy value, kcal | 67 | 73 | 75 |
| Vitamin A, mg | 0,16 | 0,09 | 0,06 |
| Carotenoids, mg | 0,14 | 0,04 | 0,02 |
| Vitamin E, mg | 1,5 | 0,9 | 0,2 |
| Sodium, mg | 50 | 30 | 17 |
| Potassium, mg | 74 | 64 | 50 |
| Calcium, mg | 48 | 46 | 34 |
| Zinc, mg | 1,2 | 3,8 | 5,6 |
Colostrum color
In the last trimester and the first day after childbirth, a woman has a viscous, glue-like liquid coming from her breasts. It's called colostrum. The composition contains a lot of protein (4 times more than in mature breast milk) and very little lactose. The main feature is the huge number of immune bodies and antitoxins that the baby needs to form immunity and launch the digestive system.
The acceptable color of colostrum is yellow. The shade can be different - from light cream to reddish. If you strain it into a jar, a small white film will appear on the surface. Colostrum definitely cannot be brown, green, or pink - if it has this color, then you must immediately inform your doctor about it.
Why is colostrum yellow?
Colostrum is the milk that the baby receives in the first hours of life; it begins to be produced already in the last months of pregnancy. This substance is very rich in beta-carotene, which gives it a yellowish-orange color. This pigment is also found in foods such as carrots, pumpkin and mangoes.
Transition milk
Gradually, on days 3–4, colostrum replaces the so-called transitional breast milk. The composition is ideal for a child at this age, but is already significantly different from colostrum. Keeps for 2-3 weeks.
Mature milk
A couple of days after giving birth, a woman begins to produce real breast milk. In the first week, it is white with a bluish tint and quite watery, since it still contains a reduced amount of fats and carbohydrates (for a recently born baby they are still difficult to digest). From the second week, mature milk begins to flow. It should be thick and white.
It is important to know not only what breast milk from a healthy woman looks like, but also what it smells and tastes like. Normally, it should be quite fatty and sweetish (due to milk sugar - lactose). The smell is similar to regular cow's milk, but with light notes of vanilla. Neither the aroma nor the taste of milk should be sour or bitter.
Involutional
By the time breastfeeding is completed, involution occurs. Mom notices that liquid of a different consistency and shade is released from her breasts. Baby food is no longer rich white. It is thicker and produced in smaller quantities.
Involution milk is clear or yellowish. It visually resembles the one that stood out immediately after childbirth. During involution, it is also affected by the foods and medications that the mother consumes.
If a nursing mother is pregnant
Hormonal levels are important for a nursing mother. During times of stress, baby food production decreases as adrenaline and cortisol are present. During menstruation, mothers also notice changes. If a nursing woman becomes pregnant, this will inevitably affect lactation.
During pregnancy, a special hormonal background is established in a woman’s body. If previously the main goal was breastfeeding, now a new goal appears - to maintain the pregnancy. Baby food changes composition, volume and shade.
Many women notice that with the onset of a new pregnancy, the volume of food for the baby has decreased, and it has become yellowish-transparent. Visually, baby food becomes similar to colostrum - the liquid that was produced immediately after birth.
Sometimes babies refuse breastfeeding when their mother becomes pregnant again, because even the taste of food changes. Doctors also recommend curtailing lactation when a woman comes to them about a new pregnancy. However, many mothers manage to maintain breastfeeding and organize tandem feeding.
Yellow milk
Sometimes breastfeeding women may wonder why breast milk is yellow. There is always a moment for women when a young mother puts her child to her breast. It is worth immediately noting that in no case should you worry about this type of color of the product, because the yellow color does not indicate its deterioration or illness of the mother. It is completely acceptable to feed a newborn baby with this product.
If a woman expresses milk at different times, you will notice a special pattern that it will also be of a different color. Its color will change, and, in addition, its composition. Fat content does not always have to be the same. It can change its properties every day or between pumping processes throughout the day. Having expressed milk at the beginning of feeding, the woman will receive a bluish color of the product. And if you express milk at the end of feeding, it will turn out to be fattier. Accordingly, the color will turn yellow.
Features of color and fat content
No matter how the milk flows from the breast, you should understand that it is the healthiest for your baby. The female body produces only the milk that a particular child needs. Moreover, as noted, the composition of milk changes as the baby grows. Also, the composition and color of milk may depend on the foods that a woman eats.
If you eat a lot of foods that contain keratin, such as carrots or pumpkin, you may notice breast milk that is yellow or orange in color. Also, yellow milk is hind milk, which is rich in fat. When the expressed milk stands for a while, a slight separation occurs: the milk is bluish on top, and deep white or yellowish below.
A pink tint may indicate the presence of blood. Therefore, you should consult a doctor to understand the reason for the appearance of bloody spots. When frozen for storage, milk may acquire a yellowish tint. And when you eat seaweed and green vegetables, the composition acquires a slightly greenish tint.
The composition of milk is individual and contains as many components as the baby needs. If the baby does not eat enough, then you should not sin on fat content. Most likely, the problems are not with the composition, but with the attachment to the breast. In order for your child to receive full caloric nutrition, you should follow simple rules:
- The baby should be put to the breast as often as possible.
Long breaks in feeding lead to strong stratification of milk in the breast and it may be difficult for the baby to suck out the entire volume of hind milk.
- If the baby has not sucked everything from one breast, then the baby should be placed on that breast after some time.
- You should not express foremilk, trying to provide your baby with only hindmilk. Both foremilk and hindmilk are very important.
Consistency
- The structure immediately after pumping is often homogeneous, but sometimes there are lumps.
- A watery or runny appearance is normal.
- Milk that has separated into layers can be returned to its homogeneity if you carefully mix it in the container with a rotating motion (do not shake the product).
Smell and taste
- The usual smell is sweetish, quite pleasant, milky.
- The taste is normally sweetish.
- The smell, as well as the taste, can be affected by both the medicines that the mother takes and the foods on her menu.
Impurities of pus
If women find impurities of pus in their milk, this is a sign indicating the appearance of purulent mastitis. In this case, the woman will be able to continue breastfeeding, but only if the discharge is insignificant.
If a young mother had to temporarily stop putting her baby to her breast, she is recommended to express milk constantly. This will avoid stagnation and maintain lactation. In order to avoid the occurrence of congestion and mastitis, a nursing woman is recommended to put her baby to her breast upon his request.
Symptoms of abnormalities
Breast milk itself is never “empty” or non-nutritious - it always contains the substances the baby needs. Another thing is that a woman may experience a pathological process when harmful microorganisms, particles of pus, blood and other impurities enter the breast fluid, which make milk unsuitable for feeding children.
If a mother notices that her milk is very sour or bitter (taste and smell), has acquired an abnormal color, green streaks of pus or scarlet “threads” of blood are floating in it, she should stop breastfeeding. A full health check at the clinic is mandatory. You can resume breastfeeding only when your doctor allows it.
Symptoms of diseases
A change in the color of breast milk may be a symptom of the development of the disease. This can only be diagnosed after pumping. Mommy should pay attention to the color and consistency. If there are any deviations, you should definitely make an appointment with a mammologist.
You should pump while taking medications.
The presence of pathological impurities in breast milk
With the development of a number of diseases, pathological impurities are observed in women's breast milk. This can be detected when expressing milk. If a nursing woman notices a change in the color of her milk, she is advised to consult a doctor, namely a mammologist.
Blood in milk
Blood can get into the milk while still inside the breast - in this case, the nutrient liquid will turn pink. This happens for more or less harmless reasons (for example, when a vessel bursts from stress). But it is also a symptom of dangerous pathologies (including internal hemorrhage due to injury or a malignant tumor of the mammary glands).
Drops of blood can get into the milk from the outside of the breast. For example, due to cracked nipples or wounds caused by a child biting. Such injuries are dangerous because if the sore spots are not allowed to heal, severe inflammation begins and the risk of infection and suppuration increases.
Pus in milk
Purulent discharge does not dissolve well in milk, so it is unevenly colored and appears in the form of green and gray streaks. They give breast fluid a bitter taste, so the baby often refuses to drink it. But even a small amount of such “defective” food is dangerous - it may contain infectious agents.
Unfortunately, during breastfeeding, nipples are easily accessible to all kinds of fungi, microbes, and viruses. Mom needs to be extremely careful, take care of her hygiene and not get too cold, so as not to catch a breast disease. For example, suppuration often begins with infectious mastitis, the provocateur of which is Staphylococcus aureus.
When do you need a doctor?
In most cases, some changes in the color of your breast milk are due to your diet and are probably not something to worry about. However, if you have any concerns about your breast milk, you can contact your doctor or lactation specialist, who will listen to you, assess the situation and order testing if necessary.
Blood impurities
Streaks of blood are often observed with a rapid flow of milk. The cause of this condition is minor hemorrhages. Other causes of blood in breast milk include:
Before continuing to feed the baby such food, the young mother should consult a specialist to find out the causes of bleeding. In some cases, a woman may need a course of medication or surgery. Next, we’ll talk about purulent discharge and blood impurities in milk in more detail.
Not all women have an idea of what color breast milk is. The photo will help you figure this out.
