The answer is YES! Breast milk changes when the baby is sick. Fascinating isn’t it?
Breastfeeding is the best way to strengthen the baby’s immunity, but this does not mean that the baby will never “catch” any virus. If this happens while your baby is still nursing, should you continue breastfeeding? Does your milk change then? And what if you don’t feel well?
Even when the baby is not fighting a virus, breast milk with its composition protects the baby from diseases and infections. That breast milk is full of antibodies – mostly in the colostrum, but also later throughout the breastfeeding period. In addition to antibodies, milk contains proteins, fats, sugars and white blood cells, which all work together to fight infection. There are also various anti-inflammatory substances that strengthen the baby’s immune system.
It has been proven that breast milk changes when the mother is sick, so antibodies are immediately found in the milk, precisely targeted to fight the infection. But what happens when the child is sick? The amount of elements used to fight viruses also begins to increase in breast milk.
How does the milk change when the baby is sick?
This process has not yet been proven by research, that is, the exact mechanism by which it occurs is not yet known, but there is evidence that the mother’s milk changes in accordance with the baby’s illness. A study showed that the level of white cells in breast milk increases when the baby has an infection, and the level of other protective substances also increases. This proves that the baby is indeed better protected when breastfeeding.
Also, leukocytes were significantly elevated during that period, both when the baby was sick and when the mother was sick. When mother and baby recovered, leukocyte levels returned to normal.
What if the color changes?
Ever since we come across viral posts, there are those who claim that milk changes color when the mother or baby is sick. Although this is really fascinating, there is currently no evidence for this, nor for the fact that milk can change color due to illness in the mother or baby. This, of course, does not mean that it is not possible. Milk can change color because of something the mother has eaten or a medicine she is taking.
