Have you ever seen photos of breastmilk in varying hues? (Or maybe you've noticed this in your own supply stash!)

Why does this happen? 

In short: SCIENCE.

Wait. STICK WITH US HERE, FRIENDS. This is amazing and fascinating and did we mention amazing?! Let’s dig in a little.

First, you have to understand the mechanism behind breastfeeding. 

When a baby suckles, it activates tiny receptors in the nipple called mechanoreceptors. These receptors send messages from the nipple all the way back to the mom’s brain, which begins a cascade of complicated events essentially telling the mammary glands to contract and dispense milk. (Taking it a step further, this process can actually begin when the mom’s auditory centers simply HEAR a baby crying. Nursing moms can vouch that this is, in fact, true! #whybreastpadsareimportant)

Back on track -- this complex system is actually a dialogue taking place between the mother and the baby, and is what we refer to as the “letdown reflex”.

This communication is not simply a request for milk….the baby is placing an order for a specific kind of milk. 

We know that breastmilk alone is sufficient for a baby for the first six months of life. That’s because a mother’s milk is dynamic - meaning it is always changing - adjusting it’s composition to compensate for the baby’s current needs as he or she grows and develops.

So, not only does your baby “tell” you how much milk she needs, how often, and what her nutritional needs are, she is also relaying a message about her immune status.

But HOW?

Well, when babies suckle, their saliva also comes in contact with this sophisticated correspondence system. This transfer allows the mother’s receptors to “read” the saliva and react accordingly. So, for instance, if the receptor picks up on pathogens in the saliva, the mother’s body will produce antibodies - not for the mom - but for the baby to help her fight the illness. Those antibodies are then of course transported back to the baby via breastmilk.

Bottom line: Your milk is tailored to your baby specifically. It's incredibly personalized.

So, back to those breastmilk pictures - YES, it is true. The reason the breastmilk is different colors is because in the time between those two pumping sessions, the actual composition of the milk has changed to meet her baby’s needs - not just nutritionally, but also immunologically.

So, nursing mom, if it were up to us, we would put a “Ph.D.” behind your name. Thanks to your breastmilk, you're basically a scientist! 

Pretty incredible. Keep it up, mama!

Need help receiving your NO COST breast pump through insurance? Wyatt's Maternity makes this process SO simple. Just fill out our online form and we'll take it from there! 

Image via huffingtonpost.ca

Resources for additional information:

https://www.khanacademy.org/partner-content/stanford-medicine/breastfeeding/v/breastfeeding-letdown-reflex

https://www.thestranger.com/features/feature/2015/08/26/22755273/the-more-i-learn-about-breast-milk-the-more-amazed-i-am