Everything You Need to Know About Breast Milk Color

From yellow breast milk to red, green, and pink, here's everything you need to know about breast milk color and when it might be cause for concern.

If you pump—or freeze—your breast milk, you may have noticed that (sometimes) it's a different color. While breast milk is considered "liquid gold," it can take on various hues: from white and yellow to blue, green, and brown. But why does your breast milk change color, and are these changes cause for concern? We turned to the experts to learn everything you need to know about the color of your breast milk.

What Is the 'Normal' Color of Breast Milk?

While most nursing parents have white breast milk, or even light blue, there is no such thing as "normal."1 What is regular for one person may be different for you. The type of milk you are producing will also affect the shade. For example, colostrum—or the first form of milk produced by the mammary glands—is typically thick and yellow, though it can be runny and clear. The point is, if your milk isn't white, don't fret: at least not yet.

"There is a wide range of normal when it comes to color for breast milk," says Hali Shields, a certified birth and postpartum doula, national board-certified health and wellness coach, and certified lactation education counselor. "Blueish, yellow, cream, orange are all normal and safe for baby."