This may be a question I should be able to find the answer to and I apologize if it is. I have looked within my resources and I am not coming up with anything. Any help would be appreciated. I have the mother's permission to post.

I have a mother who is nursing a 18 month old. The baby weaned himself from the right breast about 3 months ago and has been nursing exclusively on the left. A few times a night and occasionally during the day. Almost always only for moments, not minutes. The left seemed to keep up with the baby's needs and so the mother did not worry about the right, she says it was always the lower producer anyway. Every once and awhile the mother would hand express a drop from the right to see how much milk was hanging around. Recently when she did this it appeared to be yellow colostrum. The left side is still producing "regular" white milk. She says it has been this way a few days.

I realize this might be an odd case, not many mothers nurse from only one side, in the states as least? But is it common for milk to change color when drying up? I couldn't find anything on that, again I am a newbie perhaps this is common knowledge. Or course pregnancy occurred to me first but the mother says if she is pregnant it is only by days, not even weeks based on her last cycle. She would be due to menstruate again within a week. I can't image her right breast would produce colostrum that quickly.

The mother said she figures that it is no great concern why it is that way, though if there is an explanation it is always nice. She just wondered if this was in fact a normal thing or an odd thing. In fact, I wonder too! I thank you for your wisdom and patience with me! 

Genuinely,
 
Alia Heise
New York 
WIC Peer Counselor

 

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