Blueish Breastmilk

[lil monkey]

Hi all,
I know breastmilk can be different colours but does anyone know what it means when your milk has a blueish colour tinge to it??

Lu

[sopolicha]

I don't know about breastmilk, but a friend's mother who grew up on a dairy farm said cows milk gets a blueish tinge when a lot of the fat has been removed from it.

(don't get me wrong I am in no way comparing breastmilk to cowsmilk)

[mimi]

Hi Lu

Breastmilk changes so often - as your baby grows and even thoroughout a feed - so there is a variety of colours your breastmilk can come in!! :D You might remember the golden colour of the colostrum and then it changes over the next 3 -10 days or so and becomes mature milk, which looks 'thinner' and sometimes bluer - but in no way less 'perfect' than before!.

I think sopoli is correct, the bluer milk is usually at the beginning of a feed when it has less fat in it - as opposed to the milk at the end of a feed which is fattier.

However your milk arrives be rest assured it is perfect for your baby at that time! Did you know that on even the hottest day an exclusively breastfed baby does not need water - because the mother's body makes a more 'watery' milk and on a cold day it has more fat in it! Amazing isn't it!?

[shellbell]

yeah, i agree with the other girls. the foremilk (the watery stuff at the start of the feed) is a bluish/grey colour. a midwife in antenatal class described it as the thirst-quencher, therefore quite watery, and the hindmilk is the fattening stuff.

[lil monkey]

Thanks everyone. I think because I am not eating as much anymore as I am winding down breastfeeding that there is not as much fat content in the milk so I mix the EBM with formula to make sure Tayla gets enough fat!

[mimi]

Hi Lu

Just thought it would be woth mentioning that the fattier milk is usually at the end of a feed and the extra fat begins to be added when the baby's sucking starts to slow down ... you know, when they have those little pauses then suck suck ... the slower suckling prompts your body to add the fat - so if you are expressing, it may not be possible to 'get to the fatty milk'!? I think the newer [and very expensive] breastpumps actually have the slower, end-suck pattern [ I THINK ??] so this can happen ... maybe someone who knows more about it can tell us??

Anyway, my point was!!, that maybe your bub can actually get the fattier milk when she is feeding, but you don't get the fattier milk when expressing!?
:)