Learn more or change your cookie preferences. By continuing to use our service, you agree to our use of cookies. We use cookies why? You can change cookie preferences. Continued site use signifies consent. If you have trouble or questions before then, call the doctor. Whatever you do, don't let it get you down. With a little patience and some practice, breastfeeding is likely to get easier. For more help or if you have questions, talk to a lactation consultant, your doctor, or someone who knows about breastfeeding.
Reviewed by: Jamila H. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. When Should I Begin Breastfeeding? Hungry babies: move their head from side to side open their mouth stick out their tongue suck on their hands and fists pucker their lips as if to suck nuzzle against mom's breasts show the rooting reflex when a baby moves their mouth in the direction of something that's stroking or touching their cheek Crying is a late sign of hunger. When you your baby shows hunger signs, follow these steps: Make a "nipple sandwich.
The thumb and fingers should be back far enough so that your baby has enough of the nipple and areola — the darker circle of skin around the nipple — to latch onto. Compressing your breast this way lets your baby get a deep latch. Your baby's head should lean back slightly, so their chin is touching your breast.
Get your baby to open wide. Touch or rub your nipple on the skin between your baby's nose and lips. When this happens, your baby should open wide like a yawn with the tongue down. Bring your baby to your breast. When your baby's mouth is open wide, quickly bring your baby to your breast not your breast to your baby. Your baby should take as much of the areola into the mouth as possible. Your baby's nose should almost touch your breast not press against it and their lips should be turned out "flanged".
Pee Because colostrum is concentrated, your baby may have only one or two wet diapers in the first 24 hours. After 3—4 days, look for: 6 or more wet diapers per day, with clear or very pale pee.
Fewer wet diapers or darker pee may mean your baby's not getting enough to drink. If you see orange crystals in a wet diaper, call your baby's doctor. They're common in healthy, well-fed babies and usually not a cause for concern.
But sometimes they're a sign that a baby isn't getting enough fluids. So, if you are eating green leafy vegetables, the milk can get the colour. You might notice pink-coloured milk if your diet includes beetroot and red or orange-coloured juices.
Sometimes, the colour of the milk might be dark brown, rust, or blood-tinged. This indicates blood in the milk. Blood from cracked nipples is one of the main reasons for the change in colour. Sometimes, when blood from inside your breasts enters into the milk ducts, the milk will have streaks of blood. It can also be due to ruptured blood capillaries or Serratia marcescens, which is a bacterium.
A lot of mothers who do not express milk do not notice a change in breastmilk colour. Although some of them believe that milk with blood is not harmful to the baby, if the milk continues to appear in shades of dark brown or red, it is advisable to consult your doctor.
While the various colours of the milk might alarm you, black-coloured breast milk could frighten you to the core. The colour can be due to the effect of medicines. Generally, the black colour is associated with an antibiotic, Minocin or minocycline. This antibiotic darkens the skin and is not recommended while you are nursing the baby. So, it is advisable to mention to your doctors that you are nursing. This information helps doctors prescribe the right medicine that does not impact the baby.
If you notice the colour of the milk change to black, ensure that you contact the doctor for further guidance. At times, you might notice different colours of breast milk flowing from each of the breasts, which is perfectly normal. The main reason for this could be foremilk. If you have been feeding on one breast for a while and have not used the other breast for feeding, the foremilk from the unused breast will have a different colour.
Reading about all these colours might again make you wonder what colour breast milk is when it first comes in.
As discussed earlier, the first milk, colostrum, might be yellow or orange. However, in the later stages, when the mature milk begins to flow, it is clear or has a bluish tinge. Changing hues of breast milk is normal, but you might need to see a doctor for a few reasons. It is important that you note every food item , medicine and supplements you take while you are still nursing your baby.
Breast milk is never unsafe for the baby so do no stop feeding the baby. Do not forget to share the medicine names and the dosage details with your doctor. Breast milk is the best food for your baby. So, change in colour should not move you towards discontinuing breast milk. When in doubt, consult your doctor to have a better understanding of the various shades of breast milk.
Also Read: Difference between Hindmilk and Foremilk. Sign in. Forgot your password? Get help. Create an account. Password recovery.
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