Breast milk is thin and clear, what to do?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Doctor Hoang Thi Anh Tuyet - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital.
In fact, 90% of breast milk is water, so the phenomenon of thin and clear breast milk will not be as worrying as you think. Mothers believe that they always have enough milk and enough nutrition to feed their babies.

1. Why is breast milk thin and clear?

Breast milk is up to 90% water. The colostrum is usually rich in water, lactose, and protein, so it is clearer and looks thinner. As for milk secreted after feeding, it is rich in fat and micro-minerals, so it will look thicker.
Colostrum is yellow and clear but only secreted at 1 to 2 days after birth. So, it is not entirely true to say that the milk at this time is diluted and of poor quality.
According to experts, the quality of breast milk usually does not differ between mothers, whether the amount of milk is more or less, even if it is thick or thin as people often think, the composition of milk does not matter. there is a lot of difference.

Moreover, thick or thin breast milk is also due to the mother's body, not every time you eat a lot, the milk will thicken, and the first milk is always thinner than the latter, so doctors often advise, mothers need to Breastfeed for 15-20 minutes so that the baby can get to the condensed milk.
Milk quality is not only evaluated through the ratio of nutritional components, but also includes chemical components that are not good for the baby. Breast milk can be reduced in quality when the mother is infected or eats toxic foods.
Meanwhile, every newborn has a different absorption of food; The environment around each child is also different. Therefore, the baby's weight gain is not only completely dependent on the quality of condensed breast milk, but also due to many other factors.

2. Is breast milk diluted and clear enough for the baby?

Diluted breast milk is a common phenomenon in mothers after giving birth and many mothers feel extremely worried, because they do not know whether thin and clear milk is guaranteed to provide adequate nutrients for the baby?
In fact, the dilution of breast milk has no effect on breastfeeding, because almost all breast milk has the same nutritional composition. There is only the problem of the mother having a lot of milk or a little milk, but not having enough breast milk.
Breast milk has 2 forms including fore milk and last milk:
Colostrum: Unlike colostrum which is yellow in color, mother's colostrum is the milk secreted during the first 10 minutes of lactation. Colostrum is usually clear and thin like rice water, however, colostrum is still full of nutrients such as protein, vitamins, minerals, and water for breastfeeding.
Last milk: The last milk is the milk secreted in the middle and late stages of breastfeeding. At this time, breast milk is still full of nutrients and has more fat and protein, so the milk becomes thicker and has a slightly yellow color. This is a very important source of nutrients for the healthy development of babies.

3. The secret to improving the quality when breast milk is thin and clear

Diluted breast milk what to do? - The only way to improve breast milk quality is to change diet and daily activities
3.1. Strengthening the diet for the diet The perfect nutrition for the mother to increase the amount of milk, moreover the milk is thick and delicious, it is necessary to add enough necessary and important food groups.
Add green vegetables and fruits: Mothers should add lots of green vegetables, fruits and whole grains in each meal, because those foods contain ingredients that have essential nutrients and support vitamins. Rich in fiber for the body.
DHA is essential for baby's development Meat and fish are a rich source of iodine as well as protein, providing a lot of DHA for mother and child. Mothers should eat more fish 1 to 2 times per week, besides, increase meat to get enough protein and protein for both mother and baby.
Fortify calcium-rich foods Add calcium to your mother's daily diet, in addition, mothers should also pay attention to drinking more milk for themselves, because this is a great source of calcium and nutrients, which needs attention at this time. Immediately after birth, strengthen calcium for the child's bone system to develop and avoid osteoporosis for the mother in the future.
Water Water, an essential part: To ensure enough water for the mother's body and enough milk for her baby, mothers need to drink 8-10 cups a day, equivalent to 2 liters of water.
3.2. Changing daily living regimen Not only nutritional factors, reasonable living mode is also an important way to help breast milk secrete more and better quality.
Important rest after giving birth After giving birth to a baby, the mother's body is often very tired and exhausted. This will greatly affect the amount of milk and the quality of milk secreted. What is needed at this time is that the mother needs a rest and relaxation regime necessary for the body to recover. Only when the mother is really healthy, the milk secreted is abundant and rich in nutrients.
In particular, how to make breast milk strong and fragrant is also greatly influenced by the mother's psychology after giving birth. With a comfortable mind and spirit, the mother's milk glands will also work better.
Breastfeed properly and often One of the common causes of low milk supply, dilute milk is not feeding the baby regularly and in the wrong way.
Breastfeeding properly and regularly will help moms milk more evenly
Breastfeeding properly and regularly will help mothers maintain a more abundant and quality milk supply every day. In addition, breastfeeding in the correct position is also very important. Milk for the baby should also be secreted evenly in both breasts. The mother should let the baby empty one breast and then switch to the other. Nothing should be added to breast milk. When feeding your baby, you should have a comfortable mind, the surrounding space should also be quiet, free of smoke and toxic fumes.
Mothers need to observe whether the baby is getting enough milk by seeing if the baby's attitude after the end of the feeding is satisfied. The most important thing is to meet your child's needs.
Gentle exercise After giving birth, the mother's body is still very tired, she should avoid too strong activities. However, gentle and relaxing exercises will help mothers feel more comfortable, reduce the risk of postpartum depression and also be a way to stimulate more milk.
Gentle exercises will help mothers improve the health and quality of their milk supply.
Absolutely do not use stimulants All types of stimulants such as alcohol, beer, tobacco, ... have an inhibitory effect on the activity of the milk glands. According to the recommendations of specialists, mothers should stay away from these stimulants during breastfeeding.
Other methods In addition, some other methods to help breast milk thicken and fresher, mothers can refer to:
Breast massage to stimulate the milk glands to work. Limit spices that have a strong smell and cause heat in both mother and child such as pepper, chili, garlic, etc. Every day, the mother should drink about 2 to 3 liters of water. Clean the nipples with warm water before breastfeeding... Breast milk is the best food for babies and children. Therefore, mothers should exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first 6 months of life to strengthen the baby's health and resistance.
For more nutritional knowledge and child care for each age, parents should regularly visit the website vimec.com and make an appointment with the leading doctors, pediatric and nutrition experts of the National General Hospital. Vinmec when needing advice on children's health.