Many studies have shown the numerous health benefits of breastfeeding. For new babies, their mother is their primary source of food, love and safety. Breastfeeding helps cement the relationship between mother and child while a mother’s breast milk offers the baby a perfect balance of the nutrients they need to grow up to be big and strong. Still, breast milk is actually even more magical and impressive than we may have thought.
That’s what mother Paige Peterson found out with her daughter Raina.
Peterson’s daughter Raina had just come down with the flu, during which Peterson was breastfeeding.
Still, Peterson didn’t understand at first because Raina didn’t seem to be showing any symptoms—but her body knew. She explained the entire situation in a Facebook post that has since gone viral:
“Raina tested positive for flu this past weekend. I didn’t believe the nurse when she told me because she hasn’t had any symptoms of flu that I have noticed.
The frozen milk on the left is from 2 weeks ago. The frozen milk on the right is from this past weekend when her swab came back positive. Notice the change in color?
My breast milk created antibodies to fight off any infections that Raina may have had. I never gave her Tamiflu.
THIS is why I breastfeed!
If you’re a new mom and can breastfeed, please be patient and seek help if you need it. Breastfeeding is SO important for our babies. 💖”
As the picture shows, there is an incredible difference in color between the two breast milk samples.
You’re probably wondering—is this really true? Can breastmilk really change colors like that and adapt for different purposes. The answer, as verified by major news outlets, is yes. As it turns out, the theory is that an infant’s saliva and the mother’s nipple actually “communicate” to one another. If there are pathogens in the infant’s body, the nipple can learn this information and signal the body to change the breastmilk to fit the baby’s needs. Isn’t that amazing?
While breastmilk can change colors for any number of different reasons, this one is especially cool.
According to Peterson, little Raina was able to get better without the help of Tamiflu.
Although breastfeeding isn’t always an option for some mothers, this story shows just how incredible our bodies’ natural technology really is. Congratulations to Raina and mom on the swift recovery!
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