Breast milk is a source of nutritious and quality beverages to help your baby grow and stay healthy. Did you know that the color of milk can vary from stage to baby?
During the first few weeks after birth, breast milk has a rapid change in both composition, quantity and color. Below are normal changes in breast milk color over stage.
Colostrum
Colostrum has a milky yellow color
This type of milk usually appears late in pregnancy and the first few days after the baby is born. Colostrum usually has a light yellow or orange color due to its high content of beta-carotene. According to experts, colostrum is usually very little but very nutritious. Contains many antibodies, probiotics, many immune cells and low fat.
Colostrum contains 10 times more protein than mature milk and 20 times more protein than other milk. In addition to giving your baby growths, colostrum also has a large amount of natural antibodies. Especially antibodies IgG, IgA, IgF ... strengthen the child's immune system as well as protect the digestive tract.
Transitional milk
After a few days of colostrum secretion, the amount of breast milk secreted increases and transitional milk begins to produce. During this stage, breast milk may turn yellow to white.
Mature milk
About two weeks after birth, breastmilk turns into mature milk. At this time, the color of breast milk will also change:
First milk
The first amount of milk that comes out of each feed. The milk will be liquid, less fat and usually light green, green or clear white.
Last milk
As you continue to breastfeed, the fat content of the milk increases, making the color of the breast milk darken and turn white or opaque yellow.
Some other milky colors
Three bottles of milk with 3 completely different colors even though they are drawn in one time and from one mother's breast
- Milk is clear or bluish: It is the first milk when you first express it. After that, the milk will become thicker and start to turn white.
- Green milk: This is a sign that you have eaten a lot of green vegetables like seaweed, spinach or green beverages.
Yellow or orange milk: This may be the result of a mother's diet rich in carotene - substances found in fruits such as sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and carrots. Similarly, frozen breastmilk will also be yellow.
Black milk: The result of a specific antibiotic and should not be taken while you are breast-feeding. This is the color that represents abnormal breast milk.
In general, any kind of breast milk is good, because it is produced according to the needs and conditions of the baby. Opaque yellow breast milk is very good for your baby in the perfect development.
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