Different Colors of Breast Milk and How It Changes

Breast milk is a vital source of food for babies. It includes macronutrients, vitamins, minerals, and water that an infant needs for growth and development. But did you know that breast milk isn’t always white? It can be of different colors. However, most changes in the color are normal. Now, you may be wondering how the color changes. In this article, we have tried to explain it with all the possible medical explanations of the changes in the breast milk that you might experience in your breastfeeding journey.

1. Yellow

Colostrum is usually the very first milk that a mother's body produces, and it is most of the time yellow in color. It's packed with antibodies and white blood cells (leukocytes) that help in the development of the baby’s undeveloped immune system. Nearly 70% of the cells in colostrum are WBCs. After a few sessions of breastfeeding with colostrum milk, the level of white blood cells decreases by about 2 percent. However, if the mom or baby falls sick, the white blood cell level goes up again, sometimes to 94%.

 Many moms have shared online that their breast milk color changed when their baby had a fever or a cold. They claim that during the illness, the breast milk was more sort of yellow than white, which means it looks like colostrum and has a higher white blood cell count. This answers the most-asked question of mothers: Should I keep breastfeeding my baby when my baby is sick?

 Moreover, the food you eat also determines the color of the breast milk. If you’re eating food that is rich in beta-carotene content, such as yams, squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, or carrots, it can give your milk a yellow-orange color. After the colostrum stage, before your body starts making mature milk, it will develop transitional milk, which may have a slightly blue color. Also, the colostrum milk, or yellow milk, often comes after 2 to 5 days of delivery and lasts for about 2 weeks.

2. Blue

The consistency of your nursing milk can result in milk of a different color. The main culprit behind this is the fat content in the milk. It fluctuates every day and even within one nursing or pumping session. You can see the slightly yellow or blue breast milk when it is frozen or thawed. In frozen breast milk, there are two layers: thick yellowed milk and thin yellowed milk. These layers form because of the fat distribution.

 You may have heard these two words from a lactation expert: “foremilk” and “hindmilk.” Foremilk is breast milk that comes out when the breasts haven’t been pumped or fed from in a while. On the other hand, hindmilk is milk that comes after foremilk and is creamier, fattier, and yellower than foremilk.

 In the early stage, the watery blue milk supplies electrolytes to quench the thirst of the baby. When the feeding continues, the yellow-white hindmilk provides fat to satisfy the hunger and caloric needs of your baby’s body. 

3. Green

Since the body absorbs nutrients from the blood to produce milk, you may see a slight green color in the milk if you eat food that is green in color. It is healthy to add green foods like leafy greens and vegetables to your diet to get nutrients, so don’t panic if these foods or drinks turn your milk green. Further, there can be some other causes of green breast milk:

●       beverages that contain green dye.

●       multivitamins or iron supplements (so far, the reason behind this is unknown)

●       an infection, such as mastitis 

In addition, in some cases, the foremilk or frozen breast milk can look green, which is normal, and you don’t have to throw it out.

4. Red or Pink

Normally, when a mother sees her breast milk in a red or pink color, the first thought that comes to her mind is that the breast milk has blood in it, and she starts worrying about it. However, it is really the blood in the milk. Many doctors say that if the bleeding stays for more than a couple of days and your baby is vomiting the milk or gets diarrhea, consult a physician immediately. The blood in the milk can be caused by cracked nipples, rusty pipe syndrome (it is a condition that occurs when the breast enlarges and seeps blood into the milk ducts), mastitis (infection of the breasts), and broken capillaries.

If your milk is pink, it can be because of the food you are eating. Gelatin desserts, orange soda, and red fruit drinks have beets and food dyes in them, which can change the color of the breast milk to red, orange, or pink.

5. Black

It is not common, but breast milk can be black or a dark brown. It can be due to the use of the acne treatment antibiotic Minocin (minocycline). Doctors don’t recommend this treatment during motherhood. Also, it can be due to any medicine you’re taking. So, whenever you see the black breast milk, consult it with the doctor for your and your baby’s safety.

In Short

Every mother’s breast milk is different, and it never ceases to amaze us. You may get exhausted while feeding your baby, but don’t forget what a miracle your breast milk is. If you have any questions about the color of your breast milk, don’t hesitate to call or visit your healthcare provider. Apart from this, you deserve all the comfort and support of the world during the breastfeeding period. Always wear a nursing bra and a maternity bra. And if you’re looking for the best place to buy them, check out Lovemere. We are a lifestyle brand that designs and sells comfortable innerwear and garments for mothers. Visit the website for more information.

FAQs

1.      What is the color of healthy breast milk?

Ans: Healthy breast milk can be white, yellow, creamy, or even slightly bluish, and this can change over time. In the early days, it is often yellow (colostrum), and after some time it may look more white or light blue. Sometimes, it can be green or pink due to food and other reasons.

2.      Can babies drink pink breastmilk?

Ans: Yes, babies can drink pink breast milk, and it is often safe. This color may happen due to a small amount of blood from cracked nipples or a common early condition called “rusty pipe syndrome.” However, if the milk is bright pink (like medicine) or has a strange smell, it’s best to stop and check with a doctor, as it could be an infection.

3.      What causes strawberry breast milk?

Ans: Strawberry breast milk (pink-colored milk) usually happens when a small amount of bacteria mixes into the milk. One such bacterium, Serratia marcescens, can produce a red pigment that changes the milk’s color.