Can breast milk turn black?

Breast milk changing color is a common concern for many new mothers. In most cases, the color variation is harmless and temporary. However, sometimes it can indicate an underlying issue that requires medical attention. This article explores the common causes of abnormal breast milk colors, with a focus on black breast milk.

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What causes breast milk to turn black?

True black breast milk is very rare. More often, milk that appears black or dark brown is actually just a very deep green or blue color. There are a few potential causes of abnormally dark breast milk:

Blood in the milk (hematoma): Blood from cracked or damaged nipples mixing with breast milk can turn it reddish, brown, or black. This blood is not dangerous to the baby, but the mother should seek treatment for the underlying nipple/breast trauma.
Medications or supplements: Certain prescription medications, herbal supplements, laxatives with senna, and even foods like blueberries or chocolate in the mother’s diet can tint milk darker colors like black or green.
Bacterial infection (mastitis): A breast infection causes inflammation, damage to milk ducts, and leakage of blood and pus. This can make milk appear red, brown, or black until the infection clears.

Oversupply of milk (oversupply syndrome): Too much milk production stresses the breast ducts, causing cracked nipples and temporary discoloration of milk.
Rare metabolic disorders: Very rarely, an inborn error of metabolism in the infant can cause black flecks or staining in breast milk if it causes abnormal gut bleeding.

Is black breast milk dangerous for my baby?

In most cases, temporarily black or dark brown breast milk is not dangerous for a baby. Here are some key points on safety:

Blood or blood clots in milk are not harmful, as long as the mother is not infected with HIV or another blood-borne illness.
Medications, supplements, or food pigments that tint milk are not toxic to the baby in typical dosages.
Bacterial infections like mastitis make milk taste salty and cause flu-like symptoms in the mother, but the infection itself is not passed through milk.

Rare metabolic disorders that may cause flecks of blood usually do not significantly impact the overall milk composition.

However, if black milk persists for more than a few days or if accompanied by symptoms like fever, pain, or redness, it is best to seek medical advice. Prolonged color changes can indicate a significant health issue in the mother or baby.

How to treat and prevent abnormally colored breast milk

Here are some tips for dealing with and preventing unusual breast milk colors:

If medication or diet is the cause, modify intake to see if milk returns to normal color. Discuss safety with your doctor.
Treat cracked/damaged nipples and nurse more gently to avoid blood tinged milk.
Use massage, cool compresses, and other methods to reduce engorgement and prevent oversupply of milk.

See a lactation consultant to improve latch and prevent nipple/breast trauma.
Treat infections fully with antibiotics, continue nursing/pumping to clear blocked ducts.
Make sure to eat a balanced diet and stay hydrated to produce healthy milk.

If black milk persists more than a few feedings, seek medical guidance to check for underlying problems.

Tracking what you eat and any symptoms you experience can help identify the cause of abnormal milk colors.

When to see a doctor about dark breast milk

Consult your physician or lactation specialist if you notice any of the following:

Black, brown, red, yellow, or green milk that lasts more than 24 hours
Clots or streaks of blood in the milk
Symptoms like fever, chills, breast pain, rash, or nipple discharge/bleeding

No improvement after modifying medications, diet, nursing technique
Poor feeding, excessive crying, or signs of discomfort in the breastfed baby
Concerns about transmitting an illness through breast milk

Even if the cause seems harmless like food or medications, it is wise to get a doctor’s opinion on whether these are safe while breastfeeding. Prompt medical care is key for diagnoses like infected milk ducts, hemorrhage, or liver/thyroid disorders.

Can pumped breast milk also appear black?

Yes, the same factors that can turn breastfed milk black or dark brown can also affect pumped milk. Here are some points on abnormal colored pumped milk:

Blood from cracked nipples can mix into pumped milk.

Medications, supplements, diet can tint pumped bottles too.
Bacterial infections and ductal inflammation will make pumped milk appear abnormal.
Oversupply and engorgement affects milk composition regardless of nursing or pumping.

However, finding dark flecks or a color change only in pumped milk may also indicate:

Residue from a dirty pump part or bottle.
Lipase enzyme causing milk fat to break down and clump.

Pump suction setting too high, rupturing tiny milk ducts.

It is normal for the cream in pumped milk to separate and rise to the top. This can make the lower portion appear darker, but after swirling the milk should look uniform.

Does dark breast milk mean low milk supply?

There is no direct correlation between breast milk color and milk supply volume. Some reasons abnormal milk color does NOT necessarily signal low supply include:

Blood from nipple/breast trauma can enter milk ducts even with adequate supply.
Discoloration from medications, diet, etc. are not supply related.
Mastitis causes temporary decrease in milk removal, not overall supply.

Oversupply can also cause milk color changes and clots.

However, in some cases, poor milk production can contribute to color changes like:

Infant not removing enough milk leading to duct clogs.

Inadequate breast drainage causing mastitis infection.
Underlying illness in the mother affecting milk glands.

Checking for other signs of low supply like reduced weight gain in the baby, fewer wet diapers, or feeling overly full breasts can help identify if poor milk production is a factor in color changes.

Can I pump and dump darkened breast milk?

In most cases of temporary breast milk discoloration, it is still safe to ingest or pump and dump the milk rather than wasting it. Some key points on pumping and dumping dark milk:

Dumping is only recommended if the cause is unknown or a doctor advises against feeding it to the baby.
Pumping helps clear blocked ducts and removes milk with transient color changes.

Dumping too frequently can signal the body to produce less milk overall.
If the color change seems to be from diet or supplements, express the milk to allow those substances to clear the body.
Dumping abnormally colored milk may provide comfort even if not medically necessary.

It is best not to save milk that is stringy, foul-smelling, or tastes rancid. Feed lighter colored milk first if the color resolves in later pumpings. Limit freezing discolored milk until any underlying cause can be diagnosed and treated.

Does dark breast milk mean you have to stop breastfeeding?

Healthy babies can safely continue breastfeeding and consuming breast milk even when it has an abnormal color due to the following factors:

Blood in milk from cracked nipples or bruising is safe after nursing techniques improve.

Medications and diet only require modifying intake, not necessarily weaning.
Mastitis and blocked ducts get treated while nursing continues.
Oversupply resolves with improved breast drainage.

There are very few situations where abnormal breast milk color means you must stop nursing entirely:

HIV – if the mother has HIV, she should not breastfeed.
Chemotherapy drugs in breast milk are unsafe in any amount.

Some herbal supplements may be toxic to the infant.
Using recreational drugs or alcohol can make breastfeeding dangerous.

However, these circumstances are rare, and most causes of dark breast milk are harmless or easily corrected without fully weaning. Work with your doctor to find ways to safely continue providing your breast milk.

Are there any diet changes that can return breast milk to a normal color?

Diet can play a role in abnormal breast milk colors. Here are some dietary modifications to try if the color change seems related to the mother’s food intake:

Limit highly pigmented foods – blueberries, beets, chocolate, saffron, juices, etc.
Restrict intake of parsley, peppermint, and other herbs.

Avoid gas-producing foods that can cause baby discomfort like onions, beans, etc.
Cut out medications, supplements, vitamins. Check with doctor before stopping.
Reduce alcohol, caffeine, spicy food.

Drink 3-4 liters of water daily and eat hydrating fruits/veggies.
Eat more omega-3s, vitamin C, carotenoids for healthy milk.

Since trace amounts of food can tint milk, try eliminating suspect items from your diet for 2-3 days to see if milk color improves. Reintroduce them one at a time.

Does dark or black breast milk mean you have mastitis?

Black, red, brown or yellow breast milk can be a symptom of mastitis, a painful breast tissue infection. However, having darkened milk does not necessarily mean you have mastitis. Here is how to tell:

Mastitis causes flu-like symptoms like fever, chills, muscle aches.
Breasts become swollen, lumpy, hot to the touch.

Milk may taste salty or metallic due to increased sodium and leukocytes.
Symptoms are localized to the affected breast, especially around a blocked duct.
Milk color returns to normal after a course of antibiotics and continuing to nurse/pump.

Dark milk on its own does not mean mastitis if there is no pain, swelling, nausea, etc. But call your doctor promptly at the first signs of a breast infection.

Can I store discolored breast milk long-term or donate it?

Storing abnormally colored breast milk long-term or donating it is not recommended until the cause is identified and resolved. Key guidelines include:

Discard milk if the color seems due to contamination or poor collection/storage.

Do not donate milk if you are taking medications or supplements.
Hold off on freezing until color normalizes unless for short-term storage.
Label bottles with dates and color changes so you can monitor progress.

Once underlying condition treated, milk should be safe to freeze or donate.

Rare metabolic disorders in the baby may make it unsafe to donate excess milk. Check with a lactation consultant or milk bank before donating any amounts of darkened milk.

What kind of doctor should I consult about abnormal breast milk color?

Here are the common specialists who can help diagnose and treat the cause of unusual breast milk color:

Obstetrician (OB) – the physician who oversees pregnancy and postpartum care.
Pediatrician – monitors infant health and growth, may order tests on milk.
Lactation consultant – can assess milk supply, nipple/breast health, feeding technique.

Breast surgeon – consults on nipple/duct trauma, infections, or abnormalities in breast tissue.
General practitioner (GP) – coordinates care and refers to specialists as needed.

Breastfeeding medicine doctors, midwives, doulas, and nurses may also provide helpful troubleshooting and lactation support regarding discolored milk.

When to go to the emergency room for abnormal breast milk

Urgent medical care at the ER is rarely needed for breast milk color changes alone. However, go immediately to the ER if you have:

Difficulty breathing, fast heart rate, fainting – may indicate a life-threatening allergic reaction.
Sudden, severe chest pain – could signal a blood clot from mastitis.

Very high, spiking fever along with confusion.
Flu symptoms plus pus/blood flowing freely from nipple.
Extreme breast swelling with shiny, taut red skin – sign of inflammatory breast cancer.

Otherwise, abnormal colored milk can typically be evaluated in an outpatient setting. But always call your doctor right away or seek emergency care if you have concerns.

Conclusion

Abnormally dark breast milk is common and usually harmless, but paying attention to symptoms and duration can alert you to any underlying problems. Try the dietary changes, pumping, and nursing techniques recommended here to help resolve temporary color changes. But seek prompt medical advice for any persistent darkening accompanied by concerning symptoms. With the right lactation support and treatment, most mothers can continue successfully breastfeeding.