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When it comes to raising a baby, we all know that it’s totally up to you on how you choose to feed them.
However, we are all routinely taught how breast milk provides the best nutrients for little ones as they grow.
And now, one mother has shown just exactly how breast milk can adjust itself to suit a baby’s needs.
Mum of two Ashmiry took to Instagram to share an eye-opening picture of two lots of her own breastmilk.
One pouch, which looked like normal milk, was expressed before Ashmiry had a positive coronavirus diagnosis.
However, the other, from when Ashmiry was positive for covid-19, had a distinct green tinge.
Taking to Instagram, Ashmiry explained what she thought when she saw the green breastmilk, believing it was going to give her one-year-old, Rubi, nutrients she needed.
She even admitted drinking some of the green milk itself to see whether it alleviated any of her coronavirus symptoms.
“I really wanted to share this photo of my breast milk,” she explained. “It actually let me know something was going on in my body and my babies.
“How amazing is breast milk, it’s magical and I’m so thankful to be able to produce it especially now!”
Ashmiry continued: “The colour change indicates that my body is making exactly what Rubi needs!
“Antibodies, extra fatty and just pure goodness.”
Speaking to Tyla, clinical director and superintendent pharmacist at Medicine Direct, Hussain Abdeh, explained: “Breast milk may have turned green due to an excessive amount of immunoglobulins, which are antibodies made by plasma cells (white blood cells).
"This can occur if you have an infection, due to your bone marrow producing more plasma cells and immunoglobulins than usual. These cells are produced to help fight illness, so considering the goodness that is already in breast milk, this may explain why it changed colour.
"Although generally uncommon, it is not unusual for breast milk to develop a green, blue, pink or red tint. For example, breast milk may develop an orange or yellow colour if you have high levels of beta-carotene in the colostrum, which is the first breast milk produced by the body. It is concentrated and provides a great deal of nutrients."
The greenish colour of the breastmilk may also be down to someone’s eating habits: a diet that is rich in foods such as spinach and other green vegetables can tinge your milk slightly.
It is still perfectly healthy to give to your baby.
Breastmilk contains antibodies, which babies can then drink to gain ‘passive immunity’ from diseases.
The thick yellowish milk (colostrum) produced for the first few days following birth is particularly rich in antibodies.
According to guidelines on gov.uk, there is currently no evidence that mothers with covid-19 can pass the virus onto their baby through their breastmilk. However, covid-19 infection can be passed on to a baby in the same way as it can to anyone in close contact with you.
If you or a family member are feeding with formula or expressed milk, sterilise the equipment carefully before each use. You should not share bottles or a breast pump with someone else.
Featured Image Credit: Instagram: ashmiry_
Kimberley Bond