The Mature Breast Milk Stage
Breast milk goes through changes from the end of pregnancy through the first few weeks after your baby is born. These changes are often called stages or phases. Colostrum is the first stage, transitional milk is the second stage, and mature milk is the final stage of breast milk.
Many times, breastfeeding parents will talk about their milk coming in. Usually what they mean by this is that they have started making transitional milk. However, it is the mature breast milk that will adjust to meet your baby's changing needs throughout your breastfeeding journey. Here is what you need to know about mature breast milk including when you will make it, what it looks like, and how much you make.
When Will You Make Mature Milk?
In the beginning, your breast milk starts out as colostrum. Then, in the first few days after your baby is born, it will begin to change, or transition over to mature milk. As your mature milk starts to come in, it mixes with the colostrum.
During this mixing or transitional milk phase, you may feel your breasts getting larger and heavier as they fill up with breast milk. Many people experience breast engorgement during this time. It may be uncomfortable or even painful, but it should not last longer than a few days.
By the time you have been breastfeeding for 10 to 15 days, your breast milk will start to become mature milk.
What Does Mature Breast Milk Look Like?
Mature breast milk is usually white, light yellow, or blue-tinged. Although, it can occasionally appear as other colors depending on your diet and the colors of the foods that you eat. Blood from inside the milk ducts or from sore, cracked nipples can also make its way into your breast milk. If that happens, your breast milk may look pink, brown, or have red streaks in it.
Mature milk may look thin and similar to skim milk, or it may appear creamier. Frozen breast milk often appears yellow and since it separates during freezing it may look layered, as well.
How Much Mature Milk Will You Make?
Once your breast milk has transitioned into mature milk and fully comes in, the amount that you make will adjust according to your breastfeeding habits and your baby's needs. The more you breastfeed and pump your breast milk, the more mature milk you will make.
You will also produce more mature milk if you're breastfeeding twins or tandem nursing. However, if you are combining breastfeeding and formula feeding (and you aren't pumping to keep up your milk supply), you will make less mature milk.
The amount of mature breast milk that you make also changes as your baby grows. When your baby is 1 month old, they may be taking 2 to 3 ounces of breast milk at each feeding. So, you will be making approximately 24 ounces of breast milk each day.
This amount will go up as your baby gets bigger and takes more breast milk at each feeding. If you're breastfeeding exclusively, by the time your baby is 6 months old, you will be making between 36 and 48 ounces per day to meet their nutritional needs. Of course, this is just an estimate. Some people make less breast milk, and some people make much more.
What Is in Mature Breast Milk?
We actually do not know everything that's in breast milk. However, scientists have so far identified over 200 different components that make up breast milk. Mature milk is full of nutrients such as carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals. It contains everything your baby needs for healthy growth and development.
In addition to nutrients, breast milk contains health properties that support your baby's immune system and helps protect them from illness and disease.
Does Mature Milk Continue to Change?
Once your breast milk reaches the stage of mature milk, it doesn't mean that it will stay constant from that point on. Mature breast milk continues to change for your baby.
Changes With Each Feeding
At the beginning of a feeding, mature breast milk starts out as a thin, watery, low-fat milk known as foremilk. Then, as the feeding goes on, it becomes creamier and higher in fat. This creamier milk is called hindmilk.
Changes Throughout the Day
Mature breast milk changes throughout the day also. The concentration of nutrients such as protein, fat, and lactose are different in the morning compared to the afternoon.
Changes as Your Baby Grows
Not only does the amount of breast milk change as your baby grows, but the amounts of the nutrients and immune factors change, too. The makeup of your breast milk will be a little different when your baby is 1 month old compared to when your baby is 6 months old or 1 year old.
These changes do not mean that mature breast milk is no longer valuable to your baby after 6 months or 1 year. Even though it changes, it is still nutritious and continues to provide many health benefits to older children.
How Long Will You Make Mature Milk?
You will continue to make mature breast milk until you decide to stop breastfeeding, or you become pregnant.
After Weaning
Once your baby is fully weaned, or once you stop pumping for your child, the mature milk in your breasts will dry up and go away. However, it can take several weeks or even months until there is no longer any trace of breast milk left.
During a New Pregnancy
If you get pregnant while you are still breastfeeding another child, your mature milk will change as you get further into your new pregnancy. It will eventually turn back into colostrum for the new baby.
A Word From Verywell
Once the mature breast milk comes in, some parents worry about their milk supply being enough for their baby especially because mature milk has a thinner consistency. But the good news is that breastmilk is created based off of supply and demand. So, the more frequently you feed your baby or pump your breast milk, the more breast milk you will likely make.
If you have concerns about your milk supply or are experiencing delays in your milk coming in, be sure to talk to a healthcare provider or a lactation consultant. They can help you determine if there is cause for your concern or something else you should do. Until then, just enjoy the closeness that comes with breastfeeding and trust that your body is doing what it was designed to do.
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