Decreasing amount of fat in BM?

datan

My husband told me that he's noticed that my pumped milk (I BF when I'm with DS, but he gets a bottle of pumped milk when we're not together and at night before bedtime) has been thinner recently with a smaller hindmilk/fat layer than it used to have.  Is this a common change to BM as baby gets older? 

 DH is on some whacky "Warrior Diet" (don't worry, I make plenty of fun of him for this), so we've been eating a lot more legumes and much less meat and fish than we used to it.  I wonder if this is affecting my milk?

 I just read kellymom info on fat content of breast milk, which says that the volume of milk is what affects baby weight gain and not the fat content of milk.  Still, I'm curious as to why my BM is thinner lately.

Sharra711

datan:

 

 DH is on some whacky "Warrior Diet" (don't worry, I make plenty of fun of him for this), so we've been eating a lot more legumes and much less meat and fish than we used to it.  I wonder if this is affecting my milk?

Yes, you need fat to make fat, but if you aren't eating enough protien, the best way is to take fish oil 3X per day.

ahava2005

The nutrient and fat profile do change over time.  So that could be part of it.

But if you do need to eat more fat, that couldn't hurt.  Changing your fat intake doesn't affect the TOTAL fat in your breastmilk, but does affect the types of fat that are there.  Fish oil is a good supplement that most people should be taking. 

PAmiler82

The layer of fat in my pumped milk has gotten thicker over time. So I guess I'd say my milk is getting "fattier." 

I wouldn't worry though.  If baby is gaining weight and has no other problems then your milk is just fine!

MelodyMoonstone

I'm not sure what your weather is like, but here, when it got really hot outside, my milk was very watery and lots of foremilk.  I read that it's what babies need to stay hydrated.  Could that be a possibility for you too? 

datan

Yes, we live just outside DC so it's definitely gotten hotter here.  Also, I was taking DHA supplements, but then read I didn't need to, so stopped.  Maybe that's why my milk has changed?   I haven't really noticed the change, but my husband has.