what colour is colustrum?

**Lily Luna** · 14-04-2007, 11:45am

I've just got dressed and noticed my left breast was leaking. I wiped it and noticed there was a dark mark on the tissue

I've only ever leaked a creamy/translucent colour before but this looked really dark brown (almost like blood colour)

I squeezed a bit more (like you do

) and some more came out.

Is it normal to be this colour or should I ring my midwife?

Thanks

**Rez** · 14-04-2007, 11:51am

Colostrum is definitely a creamy colour so I don't know what I'd suggest. Maybe ring your midwife to put your mind at rest?

**Madwife** · 14-04-2007, 11:54am

Maybe its the remains of old gunk from last time

Sorry, no idea really.

**Madwife** · 14-04-2007, 11:54am

That wasn't very helpful was it?

**Seagull&Snoopy** · 14-04-2007, 11:55am

It says in my pg book -anything other than creamy contact your midwife
x

**Lily Luna** · 14-04-2007, 11:57am

I've just tried both of midwifes numbers and both their phones are off

I've had mastitis in that breast earlier on in pregnancy so maybe its got something to do with that.

**Seagull&Snoopy** · 14-04-2007, 12:00pm

Can you phone your local hospital ante natal midwife?

**Cupcake's Mum** · 14-04-2007, 12:21pm

Mine is creamy coloured with an occasional orange-ish streak to it

, its the same as I had last time

**Madwife** · 14-04-2007, 12:24pm

just found this for you...

The color of colostrum varies. It may be clear, bright yellow, white, orange, pink, green, and light brown (Wilson-Clay and Hoover 2002). Foods or beverages that a mother may ingest could be the cause of these different colors. The vitamins or medicines that she takes also may affect the color. Pinkish milk is sometimes caused by dried blood in the milk ducts and is referred to as "rusty pipe syndrome." Small amounts of blood in human milk are not harmful to the newborn, so there is no need to discard the milk or discontinue breastfeeding.

http://www.lalecheleague.org/llleade...Jan05p123.html

**Lily Luna** · 14-04-2007, 12:32pm

Have managed to get into contact with the hospital and they said that it could be to do with the infection from the mastitis and to see if it settles down over the next 24hours. If not then I'll have to go for it checking out.

Thanks for your replies

**Lily Luna** · 14-04-2007, 12:34pm

Originally Posted by Muso

just found this for you...

The color of colostrum varies. It may be clear, bright yellow, white, orange, pink, green, and light brown (Wilson-Clay and Hoover 2002). Foods or beverages that a mother may ingest could be the cause of these different colors. The vitamins or medicines that she takes also may affect the color. Pinkish milk is sometimes caused by dried blood in the milk ducts and is referred to as "rusty pipe syndrome." Small amounts of blood in human milk are not harmful to the newborn, so there is no need to discard the milk or discontinue breastfeeding.

http://www.lalecheleague.org/llleade...Jan05p123.html

thanks for that muso it could be something I've eaten and I'm also taking iron tablets and pronatal tablets so it could be something to do with that.

Thank god for that I was starting to panick a bit