Breastfeeding Basics, pt. 2: Fat Content in Milk

Now we understand that the fat content of milk gradually changes during each feeding and that in some unusual cases breastfeeding ‘by the clock’ can prevent babies from getting to the fattier milk on either breast.

The first milk a baby gets (sometimes called foremilk) is lower in fat (in some cases like the 1% cow’s milk we might buy from the store.) As baby continues to feed, the milk increases in fat (more like 2% milk.) As the baby continues to drain the breast, the fat content increases until it is fatty as whole milk, then half and half, then cream (sometimes called hindmilk.)

Fortunately, once it was understood that the babies who were having these problems were receiving mostly low fat milk, the solution was simple: leave the baby on the first breast until he finishes it. When the baby receives both the low fat and the fattier milk, milk will no longer rush through his system. The higher fat content of the fatty milk causes it to linger longer in the intestines, preventing the gas and colic and boosting baby’s weight gain.

More recent research from Australia has found that for most babies, milk fat content balances out no matter what feeding pattern is used (Kent et al. 2006), but the British mothers studied had very overabundant milk production.

From Breastfeeding Made Simple, Mohrbacher and Kendall-Tackett 2010.