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

  • Breastfeeding baby

Step 1 Recognize the foremilk 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 Recognize the hindmilk 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 the difference 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.

Step 4 Comprehend the process 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 an imbalance 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 the imbalance 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.