Clear BM?

[Charlotte91]

When I was pregnant with DD, I was able to hand express bright yellow colostrum. I started leaking around 28w with her.

37+1 and no leakage this time. So, last night in the bath I decided to see what was going on so I started hand expressing. Also hoping that the stimulation would bring on some labour because I'm very much over being pregnant.

I got a decent flow going, which was awesome, but it's clear. OK, bear with me while me and my preggy brain explain... The first squeeze or 2 has a yellow streak in it and then it's just clear. It 'feels' like BM, but it's just....clear.

Is there something wrong? Why aren't I getting yellow colostrum?

[MrsFabuloso]

I'm pretty sure it's normal hun. I was told by a lactation consultant that BM can range in colour from clear to white to a bluish/greyish colour. FWIW, I wouldn't be worried about it. Besides, there is still plenty of time for it to change colour if it is going to!

[Amaunet]

I leaked clear fluids from my breasts during both pregnancies, so it's normal for me

[PumpkinZulu]

Sounds normal

[Saffy]

Definately normal, I've seen all different colours but clear is pretty common.

[~Raven~]

With my subsequent PG's I barely got colostrum till after I gave birth. Like you I started leaking quite early with my first one too.

I can still get clear stuff out now and I haven't BF for over two years!

[Charlotte91]

Thanks ladies. I feel a bit better now.

Like I said, I had HEAPS of colostrum with DD.
And I wasn't sure if, because this is clear, this is 'good' stuff or not and whether bub would be hungry once s/he's born.

Just pregnant mummy worries, I guess.

[MrsFabuloso]

It's all good hun. If it comes out of your boobies (and it's milk!), then it's all good.

[OceanPrincess]

Pretty sure that for second (subsequent) bubs, placenta needs to detach before colostrum is triggered. Its like you could still be feeding DD, your boobs don't quite know, so your body keeps producing normal mature BM until it receives a trigger to change - the placenta detaching.

Then it'll produce colostrum.

Does that make sense?

[Saffy]

OP- once the placenta is removed ( for any pregnancy) the second phase of milk production is triggered ie the milk coming in, which takes a few days to occur. Prior to that, the first phase of milk production happens when you are pregnant, everyone has colostrum from about 16wks of pregnancy, some leak, some don't. Hormones from your placenta prevent the milk coming in until the baby is born. If some of the placenta is left behind after birth (rare), often the milk doesn't come in as even a small piece of placenta can stop it- strange huh! xx

[PumpkinZulu]

A bit OT, but if you're still BF during pregnancy, will colostrum still come through around week 16? Does that mean the milk goes completely, or is it combined?

[Saffy]

Its combined, changes to colstrum for the new baby but still mature milk or the other, it'll be good when your baby is born- no risk of worrying about the amount he/he is getting. Not sure at what time in the preg it would change, probably different for everyone.