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Breastfeeding
TroopT45
member
Milk switching to colostrum?
TroopT45
member
Hello everyone. I'm currently 14 weeks with my second baby. DS is 14 months old and although the first 8 weeks of his life were really trying (ended up having to exclusively pump during that time) I managed to meet my goal of breastfeeding for at least his first year. My supply pretty much tanked after I got pregnant and DS has not been nursing more than once every few days. Even then he only stays on for about 30 seconds or so before he gets up and runs off to grab a book or hug (read "tackle") one of the animals. I had assumed that I had dried up completely since he doesn't seem interested in breastfeeding these days but I tried hand expression to see what, if anything, was left and found that my milk has taken on more of a thick, sticky, yellow consistency.
I was under the impression that moms who continue to breastfeed through pregnancy usually see their milk switch to colostrum somewhere after the 4th month but I'm not quite there yet. Do any of you have experience with this? This may seem ridiculous, so I'm sorry if I sound like an idiot, but my inner hypochondriac is making me wonder if this could just be bad milk since I haven't emptied my breasts in almost a month. Could I have switched to producing colostrum this early?
Thanks in advance for your input.
D14 June Siggy Challenge - Favorite TV/Movie Dad: Gomez Addams
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Re: Milk switching to colostrum?
I've never nursed and been pregnant at the same time, so I'm not speaking from experience there, but I do know that I was able to express colostrum for at least two years after nursing (briefly) DD1, probably longer. With this recent pregnancy, I was able to express colostrum like pretty much right away. So, I'd imagine that's just your body reacting to the pregnancy and getting ready for nursing #2.
At any rate, I would not think breastmilk could ever "go bad" inside of your breasts, unless there was an infection, in which case you'd likely have other signs, pus, blood, fever, warm to touch, etc.
Edit to clarify: The infection signs I listed were to say, that's likely what you'd be expressing and experiencing if there was some type of breast infection. Even with an infection, I don't think your milk can go bad.