Contents:
- Medical Video: TikTok and Musically Tutorials for Popular Challenges 2018
- Healthy and normal discoloration of breast milk
- Colostrum
- Transitional breastfeeding
- Mature milk (adult)
- Abnormal breastfeeding discoloration
- The milk is greenish in color
- Breast milk is dark yellow or pink
- Milk is brown or bleeding
- Black breast milk
- Breast milk is stored in the refrigerator
- Should you see a doctor when breast milk changes color?
Medical Video: TikTok and Musically Tutorials for Popular Challenges 2018
Newborns who are still under the age of 6 can only be given breast milk as the main food. However, the milk that comes out of each mother's nipples varies, depending on the food and drink consumed by the nursing mother. Actually, what kind of breast milk is healthy? If the color changes, what are the causes?
Healthy and normal discoloration of breast milk
As a mother, you must realize that the color in breast milk changes. Sometimes yellowish white, white, brown, green, and also pink. This condition can occur for one day or even more, and can make you worry. For that, you have to understand exactly what color changes are normal in breast milk.
During the first few weeks after birth, the composition, amount, and color of breast milk can change rapidly. There are several stages of breast milk discoloration experienced by nursing mothers, including:
Colostrum
Colostrum is the first milk produced after childbirth and only occurs in the first few days. This milk is initially clear, like water which will then turn yellowish white or orange.
The color of yellowish or orange colostrum indicates that breast milk is rich in beta-carotene. Although there are few, this type of milk is highly nutritious; rich in antibodies and white blood cells that help your child's immune system fight infections.
Transitional breastfeeding
After several days of colostrum is released, the production and amount of breast milk increases. Breast milk which is initially yellowish or orange will turn white. This type of breast milk is called transitional breast milk, color changes in breast milk will occur in about 2 weeks.
Mature milk (adult)
After going through a transition period, ASI will become more mature and perfect. However, changes in mature milk have several colors, depending on how much fat is contained, such as:
- Foremilk.This type of milk is slightly clear and bluish. This color indicates that breast milk has a fairly low fat content.
- Hindmilk.The more milk is milked, the fat content in breast milk will continue to increase. The appearance of milk will look like milk in general, namely white or yellowish white.
Abnormal breastfeeding discoloration
In addition to white or yellowish white, breast milk can change color due to certain food intake factors such as supplemental supplements, medicines, or also herbs. Substances contained in these extra foods not only affect the color of urine, but also breast milk.
Although sometimes it makes you shocked and worried, abnormal color changes in this milk do not harm your child. Some abnormal changes in breast milk and are common in nursing mothers include:
The milk is greenish in color
Breast milk that turns greenish indicates that the mother consumes a lot of foods containing green coloring, such as eating lots of spinach or seaweed. It can also be from soft drinks and energy drinks that contain fat soluble vitamins.
Breast milk is dark yellow or pink
Pink or red breast milk indicates that the mother consumes food or drinks containing red, yellow, or orange coloring. For example, the mother eats purplish red or curry beets.
Milk is brown or bleeding
Breast milk can turn brown because it is mixed with blood. Usually this condition occurs in mothers who experience injuries to their nipples. Fortunately, a little blood in this milk does not harm the baby and will return to normal within a few days.
Black breast milk
Although rare, breast milk can also turn blackish in color. This condition occurs due to breastfeeding mothers using Minocyccline antibiotics. In addition to changing the color of breast milk, this antibiotic can also cause the skin color in certain areas to become darker. For this reason, the use of this drug must be avoided by nursing mothers.
Breast milk is stored in the refrigerator
For nursing mothers who work, usually the milk will be milked and stored in a bottle. The milk stored in the refrigerator can change color, become the upper yellow and bluish on the bottom of the bottle. Although the color changes, the quality of breast milk remains good. Changes in the color of breast milk occur because the silent bottle makes the fat content rise to the top.
Should you see a doctor when breast milk changes color?
If changes in breast milk are caused by what you eat, it doesn't matter. However, if you are still unsure, consulting a doctor can be the solution. If brown milk continues to occur more than one week, you should immediately do a further examination with the doctor. Always ask your doctor about certain medications during breastfeeding, because it can reduce the amount and change the color of breast milk.
