diurnal fluctuations in breastmilk composition?

[HotI]

Just looking for some info on how breastmilk composition (particularly fat/sugar ratios) changes during the day. i don't know if this is factual, but i was told that in the morning, breastmilk is higher in fat and in the afternoon it is higher in sugar - and this can contribute to baby being more unsettled in the afternoon / early evening. it was also suggested that if i express in the morning (high fat milk) and give it to baby in the afternoon then he would be more settled than if i breastfed him at that time. Any truth in this theory?

[onthefly]

sounds like bollocks. But I don't actually know.
I've read the opposite re morning/evening milk, btw, that the morning milk is a pick-me-up or something. I just think it helps to make mothers uncertain about the quality of their milk.

What I understand re composition is that it is related to frequency of feeding. so the longer between feeds, the lower the fat content (I think) and vice versa.

[starangelk]

I express 3 times a day and was told to write the time of the feed on the Ebm so it could be given at the appropriate time by a mw. When I questioned this it was explained to me that it's better to give fresh milk rather than worry about the timing. I give my son milk from any time of the day at any time of the day and have noticed no changes

[luna moth]

^^ What she said. Except....

What I understand re composition is that it is related to frequency of feeding. so the longer between feeds, the lower the fat content (I think) and vice versa.

I've read the opposite of that ^^ That the fat content balances out no matter how frequent your feeds.

I do know that Baby Whispering types recommend expressing in the evening in the early days, but that's based on their fill-em-up before night philosophy I think.

[onthefly]

yes, actually audax that makes more sense. I think breastfeeding is a really robust, sensible biological system that works quite well when you don't think about it too much.

[Trillian]

Maybe it's anecdotal based on what you eat affecting your bub? As you go through the day if you are eating sugar then it may affect your baby by the end of the day? Some babies can be quite sensitive to sugar in Mum's diet and react to it.

[HotI]

sounds like bollocks. But I don't actually know.

That was my initial thought, but i started to wonder. Had a chat to an LC at an ABA meeting. She said the fat/water/sugar content is related more to how long since your last feed and how long baby feeds for (so what MadB and Audax said).

So yeah, call that one busted.

[MantaRay]

There has been some research that's shown that the content of milk changes throughout the day. However I think it's important not to over think this. Breastmilk is always exactly what your baby needs. Full stop. Trying to complicate it by worrying about the time of day just makes breastfeeding more difficult, unnecessarily. I think the statement isn't necessarily untrue, but is more irrelevant if that makes sense.

[Kmn]

I think that there may be other things in here too - if you're a "morning coffee" person then your morning milk may well not be what you want your baby to be having before bed!
But unless you are mostly expressing and having troubles then I wouldn't worry about it either.