The comments about colostrum and different cultures is interesting. In my practice now I see few Asians or Latinas, but I have seen these mothers at other times and still get calls from others who work with them. I have found (personally) that sharing the following information is helpful without putting down or denying them their own cultural "knowledge." Colostrum stops being made when the baby is born. Thereafter, mature milk production goes into high gear because nothing is present to prevent it. Hence, each feeding from the first is a different percentage/representation of colostrum and mature milk until only mature milk is present. The time it takes to make this transition depends on a varietyi of elements, not least of which is the frequency of milk transfer (to baby, or into pump, or into hands when expressing, etc). As the color changes, the milk "matures". Sharron Humenick's research on maturation of milk has also shown that the characteristics of the milk also change as the proportion of colostrum declines. Most mothers who breastfeed frequently have white milk within 7 days; others take as long as 16 days to achieve this. If you have a mother who is concerned about the old milk, invite her to express her milk until that color is less noticeable. Inform her that frequently doing so will increase the volume of her GOOD milk (white stuff) and help develop a decent milk supply, to which her baby will benefit. Also, when she sees that she does indeed have milk (an issue more among Asian mothers), they usually are more likely to put baby to breast sooner. Hope this helps and thanks to K Dettwyler for her comments on the issue from a cultural anthro perspective. One of the joys of LACTNET is our multi-disciplinary nature. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% %% "We are all faced with a series of great %% %% opportunities brilliantly disguised as %% %% impossible situations" - definition of a %% %% lactation consulting service. %% %% Kathleen G. Auerbach, PhD, IBCLC %% %% [log in to unmask] Homewood, Illinois USA %% %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%