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How to Know the Difference Between Foremilk and Hindmilk. Breastfeeding offers your child
all the nutrition they need in the first six months of life, and mothers produce two kinds
of milk, the foremilk and the hindmilk. You will need and breastfeeding baby. Step 1.
Understand that foremilk has a thinner consistency. The foremilk is the milk that, when nursing,
a baby will draw first; it has a lower fat content and higher lactose content. Step 2.
Understand that hindmilk has a thicker, creamier consistency. The hindmilk is the milk behind
the foremilk. The baby will receive the hindmilk after drawing the foremilk. Step 3. Understand
that the difference is in the fat content. Your baby will receive the foremilk first,
and this will quench their thirst; the hindmilk will come next and will relieve your child's
hunger because it is richer and fattier than the foremilk. Your child instinctively knows
how long to suckle to get what they need. They will suck lighter if they are thirsty
and harder when they are hungry. Step 4. Understand the process of milk production. When the mother
produces milk, fat clings to the milk-making cells and the watery part moves towards the
milk ducts, where it will mix with unused milk and become the foremilk, while the fattier
liquid stays higher up in the breast. Step 5. Recognize that while your body normally
naturally produces a balanced mix of foremilk and hindmilk, sometimes an imbalance can occur.
If your child is not gaining weight or seems fussy, it could be due to an imbalance. Step
6. Correct a hindmilk/foremilk imbalance if it occurs by feeding your child on one side
per feeding. If your child wants to nurse again within a few hours, try to feed them
on the same side. This way the baby will empty the breast of both foremilk and hindmilk and
can also help to slow down your milk production. Did you know Research has shown that people
who were breastfed often have lower blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as lower
obesity and type-2 diabetes rates.