Breast milk is not like formula milk, has a unique taste that no other processed milk has. So what does breast milk taste like and what factors are affected? Let's find the answer through this article!
Breast milk provides a rich source of nutrients for infants. So what does breast milk taste like and how do you know what is the original taste of breast milk?
What does breast milk taste like?
What does breast milk taste like?
Breast milk usually has a characteristic aroma and is mild in taste, not too salty or too sweet. Colostrum is usually quite thick at first but will begin to thin out later in life. Breast milk is not the same as cow's or goat's milk, so it is not possible to judge whether breast milk is normal by comparing it with commercially available formulas.
What breast milk tastes like depends a lot on the mother's diet and lifestyle. During breastfeeding, milk can turn too sweet or too salty depending on how the mother eats every day. Besides, if breast milk is expressed and stored, it will have a change of smell, taste, sometimes a fishy, sour or strong taste, not the same as when feeding the baby directly.
Expressed breast milk has no original taste
Factors affecting the taste of milk
What breast milk tastes like depends a lot on the mother's body and daily nutritional composition. Depending on the amount and type of food the mother absorbs, the milk will have different colors, smells and textures. The following foods can directly affect the taste of breast milk:
- Canned, processed foods: Contains a very high amount of sodium in ingredients, so they make breast milk taste too salty.
- Spices with strong flavors: Chili, pepper, garlic and other spices will also have the ability to change the original taste of breast milk, causing the milk to have a strong odor characteristic of that spice.
- Fruits and grains: Provides sugar, carbs and many important nutrients for the body. Mothers who eat these food groups will have milk that is sweeter, tastier and fatter than usual.
Diet directly affects milk quality
In addition to diet, location is also an important factor in determining what breast milk tastes like. For example, if a mother eats a healthy diet and has a high percentage of carbohydrates in her meal, the amount of lactose in her blood increases, which makes the milk taste sweet. Another example is when the mother's body contains a lot of lipase-digesting enzyme, the milk that is expressed will smell and taste like soap.
So what color breast milk is good ? Usually breast milk is milky or slightly yellow in color. However, this is also not the norm because breast milk changes over time and from stage to stage. Colostrum is pale yellow or orange, transitional milk turns white, and mature milk is clear white or even pale green. Mature milk in subsequent feedings will continue to turn opaque yellow or white.
Breast milk has a sweet taste, should I breastfeed my baby or not?
Breast milk, which is about 7% lactose, tastes sweet. This type of milk is good for your baby because lactose is an important carbohydrate that helps your baby's body absorb calcium and phosphorus optimally, helping the baby's skeleton to become stronger and grow faster. Besides, lactose provides energy for the baby's body to function normally, synthesize important enzymes and strengthen the baby's immune system.
Breast milk has a sweet taste that is good for baby's development
However, if breast milk is too sweet, you need to be careful to avoid lactose overload. This phenomenon often appears in children from 3 to 6 months old with symptoms such as fussiness, irritability, excessive farting, prolonged diaper rash, green liquid, sour smell ... The baby is uncomfortable due to fullness. slightly, eating too full but still gaining weight steadily.
If there are symptoms above, the mother should regulate breastfeeding. Breastfeeding should be moderate, not too full. Besides, do not let your baby hold the bottle to suckle because according to the natural reaction, the baby will swallow the milk without stopping and cause bloating, too full.
Breast milk has a salty taste, should I feed my baby or not?
Breast milk has a salty taste because the mother's food is high in sodium. At this time, you need to be careful because the milk has a salty taste, which is not very pleasant and makes the baby may hate the milk. And from there, the baby will not be fed enough, hungry, fussy, lack of nutrients and slow to grow.
Milk that is too salty does not suit the baby's taste and makes the baby cry
Mothers should not try to wean the baby, but should pay attention to adjust their nutrition, do not eat too strong spices such as chili, pepper or processed foods that taste too salty like bacon. Smoke, cold meat, pizza, snack, sausage... Besides, it is supplemented with fiber, essential vitamins and minerals through foods such as fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, eggs....
When it comes to what breast milk tastes like , it should be sweet, slightly fatty, fragrant, not fishy, and white or yellow in color. However, regardless of taste or color, breast milk is always the best food for babies in the first years of life, so it is necessary to breastfeed babies , especially for babies under 6 months old. .