I want to share an observation and my resulting theory.

I have worked with a number of babies who are not at the breast during the
colostrum period, then go on to b'feed well.  Some of the mothers continue
to do some pumping after the baby is at the breast regularly. The milk is
white until the baby begins to feed at the breast, then it turns yellowish
for a few days.  One mother's was almost orange then turned back to all white.

My theory is that the baby sends a message that, "I missed my colostrum!!"
and "new" colostrum is made.  I read somewhere that a baby's saliva sends a
chemical message through the nipple to program the milk to her
specifications.  And these little ones aren't missing out on their
colostrum, even if the culture says that it is poison and the baby must not
go to breast before the mature milk comes in.

What do you think?

Patricia Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee