Much discussion lately has focused on the color of colostrum and mature
milk and whether color, by itself, is an indication of some problem
suggesting said milk should not be given to the baby.

Just to let everyone know: a recent article in the British J of Dermatol
notes that *black* breastmilk is the result of minocycline therapy!

We have heard about red and green.  Let's hear it for black!

PS While doing a tour of the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne,
Australia (Neil Campbell's home hospital) nearly 4 years ago, we were
confronted by a midwife with a sample of milk from a mother whose baby had
had surgery that morning.  Her milk was greenish-black! No joke! I saw it!!
That is the only way to describe its color.  Dr. Campbell, in his wisdom,
told the midwife to give it to the baby and then talk with the mother when
next she came in to see the baby and express her milk and "ask her some
questions."

How much you wanna bet she was going to ask about her intake of vegetables
and vitamin preparations and possibly medications?!

His philosophy was, when in doubt, give it to the baby and observe; then
ask the mother for details.  What a wonderful approach when compared with
the usual "breastmilk is guilty until proven innocent" approach of less
informed professionals....

Oxygen getting thin.  Next...

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"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly
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Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD, IBCLC (Ferndale, WA USA) [log in to unmask]
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