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A mum has revealed her breastmilk turned green after both she and her baby tested positive for Covid.

Ashmiry, a wellness coach, shared an image of two bags of her expressed breastmilk side-by-side. On the left the bagged breastmilk is white, on the right it’s tinged a green colour.

“I needed a few days to let my brain understand what has been happening this past week,” Ashmiry explained on her post. “Three out of four family members tested POSITIVE for COVID-19 in my home, Jesse, Rubi and myself. (Mia may have the antibodies, she has not had any symptoms and she tested NEGATIVE).

“I really wanted to share this photo of my breastmilk! It actually let me know something was going on in my body and my babies. How amazing is breastmilk, it’s magical and I’m so thankful to be able to produce it especially now! The colour change indicates that my body is making exactly what Rubi needs! Antibodies, extra fatty and just pure goodness.”

Green breastmilk

The image was shared by GoldiLacts Lactation Consulting, which wrote, “Our breasts are super responders. When lactating, our bodies are always doing full body scans of mama and baby and figuring out exactly what to put in breastmilk for babies wellness.  SO amazing!

“Our bodies are so STRONG, so complex and yet so simply magical.”

Can Covid Really Turn Breastmilk Green?

Breastmilk colour varieties
Image via mommy.labornurse

 

The jury is out on this one. Obviously there hasn’t really been any in-depth studies on the impact of Covid on breastmilk colour. However, according to Dr Adrian Wong, it was more likely that the mum’s diet, rather than Covid turned her breastmilk green.

In fact, some mums responded on the Instagram post, saying they had been Covid positive, but their breastmilk colour didn’t change. While others said their breastmilk gets a green tinge when they’ve had a green smoothie.

We’ve previously reported on a mum who claimed her breastmilk changed colour after her baby was vaccinated, saying her bub’s saliva sent signals to her body.

According to Medela, breastmilk can range in colour, from blue to clear, yellow to green and pink to red and even black or chocolate brown.

Blue or Clear Breastmilk

This is usually foremilk, which is the milk that comes out at the very start of a breastfeed. It’s thinner and clearer because it’s lower in fat than the creamy, white milk which flows later.

Yellow Breastmilk

The very first milk our breasts produce – colostrum – is usually yellow. Otherwise yellow breastmilk can be caused by diet – eating things like carrots or sweet potato that are high in beta-carotene.

Green Breastmilk

Green smoothies are usually the reason for green breastmilk. A diet loaded with spinach, seaweed, kale or other green veggies can cause green breastmilk.

Pink Breastmilk

Pink Breast Milk

As with mum Hayley Wombles who we recently reported on, pink breastmilk can be caused by blood in the breastmilk, as well as eating red foods.

Black Breastmilk

Again, this can be caused by blood, or even medication. If you’re ever concerned about the colour of your breastmilk, have a chat to a lactation consultant or your doctor.

Has your breastmilk ever been a strange colour? Let us know in the comments below!

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  • I now have the rainbow song in my head!

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  • It’s amazing what your body can do!

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  • I didn’t know it can be different colour.

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  • I don’t remember mine being different colours at all but it wouldn’t shock me if it did turn green cause of covid.

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  • I ended up with brown breastmilk once after clearing a clogged duct

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  • I fed straight out of the breast and didn’t do much pumping; that way I didn’t have much to concern about either ;)

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  • I don’t see how covid would change the breast milk colour, otherwise you would see it changing for other viruses and infections. Covid presents much like a really bad cold or flu. Breast milk doesn’t change colour for those types of viruses.

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  • Mine has always been white! I remember collecting colostrum and it being more white than anything else. But my milk isn’t very good as it doesn’t fill my babies. Anyway I’ve learnt something new and a little curious today!

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  • Can’t say I’ve ever noticed my breast milk changing colour, but then I never really pumped. Regardless, it is incredible stuff and does change its make- up when bub is sick to provide what they need so colour change or not it is definitely magical stuff and would be helping the babies recovery.

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  • Mine was red with blood. It’s what convinced me to stop.


    • In most cases, it’s safe or even helpful to continue breastfeeding if you see blood in your breast milk. This can sometimes be a sign of health problems for the mother, but it’s not dangerous for babies. Some mothers find that blood in the breast milk causes babies to spit up more, but this is rarely cause for concern.

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  • Very skeptical and a bit horrified if true.


    • Breast milk just can have all kind of colours, just like poo ;)

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  • I also agree that it was more likely the diet for that kind of green.
    Mine would be similar if I had green cordial or soft drink. Even now, I have IBS and if I drink green cordial or green soft drink my urine and poop goes green. ???? it makes me laugh each time because it’s VERY green

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  • Amazing to see all the various colours, Ive never experienced any kind of change in colour

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  • Oh my gosh, it looks like it would be matcha flavoured lol.
    I’ve never seen breast milk any other colour than white/ cream.
    I think I would definitely be freaking out seeing pink, green or blue!

    Reply

  • Never heard or experienced this. Just wow ???? it is truly unbelievable.

    Reply

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