What time is considered morning breast milk?

Understanding Morning Breast Milk
Breast milk is not just a source of nutrition for infants; it also plays a crucial role in regulating their developing circadian rhythms. The timing of breast milk production significantly influences its composition, which varies throughout the day. Morning breast milk, typically expressed or fed to infants in the early hours, is characterized by higher levels of certain hormones and nutrients that promote alertness and activity.
Composition of Morning Milk
Research indicates that the composition of breast milk changes throughout the day, with distinct differences between morning and evening milk. Morning milk, often produced around 7 AM, contains elevated levels of cortisol—a hormone associated with wakefulness and alertness. In fact, cortisol levels in morning milk can be approximately four times higher than those found in milk produced in the evening. This hormonal boost is beneficial for infants as it helps them feel more awake and alert during the day.
Additionally, morning milk is rich in leptin, a hormone that plays a role in regulating energy balance and appetite. The concentration of leptin is notably higher during the early morning hours, particularly between 10 PM and 4 AM, compared to later in the day. This variation in hormone levels is thought to help infants establish their own sleep-wake cycles, aligning them with the natural rhythms of day and night.
The Role of Circadian Rhythms
The concept of chrononutrition—the timing of food intake in relation to the body’s biological clock—applies to breast milk as well. The changing composition of breast milk throughout the day not only nourishes infants but also helps program their emerging circadian biology. By providing milk that is tailored to the time of day, mothers can support their babies in developing healthy sleep patterns and daily rhythms.
Practical Implications for Feeding
For breastfeeding parents, understanding the differences between morning and evening milk can inform feeding practices. It is suggested that mothers label their pumped milk with the time it was expressed, allowing them to offer morning milk in the morning and evening milk at night. This approach can help maximize the benefits of the milk’s hormonal content, promoting alertness during the day and relaxation at night.
In summary, morning breast milk, typically expressed around 7 AM, is characterized by higher levels of cortisol and leptin, which support alertness and energy in infants. This natural variation in breast milk composition plays a vital role in helping babies establish their circadian rhythms, making it an essential aspect of infant nutrition and development.

What time is breastmilk considered night milk?

Breast milk clearly exhibits a 24-hour pattern, with melatonin concentrations high during the evening and night (starting about 9pm and peaking between 2 and 3am) but are barely detectable in daytime milk. Infants are not born with an established circadian rhythm; it develops after three to four months.

When do babies no longer need night feeds?

between 2 – 4 months
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics [2], most formula-fed babies no longer need night feedings between 2 – 4 months of age.

How to label AM and PM breast milk?

Quick tips: Timing breast milk
You can follow these steps to make sure that your baby is ingesting timed breast milk: Label the bottles: If you are using stored, pumped breast milk, mark the bottles as AM for morning milk and PM for evening milk.

What time is morning breast milk?

Interestingly, prolactin levels have a typical 24-hour cycle — just like the human body’s circadian rhythm. Prolactin peaks in the early morning hours around 2-5 a.m., while the lowest prolactin levels happen in the late afternoon to early evening.

What time is considered a morning feed?

However, keep in mind that many babies still need a early morning feed (between 3-5am) until 12 months! For babies that are waking more than that, chances are that they are not actually hungry, but just wanting to be soothed.

Is morning and evening breast milk different?

Breast milk changes dramatically over the course of the day. For example, levels of cortisol – a hormone that promotes alertness – are three times higher in morning milk than in evening milk.

What is the 5 5 5 rule for breast milk?

Something I recommend to moms is the 5-5-5 rule. Try and use milk within five hours at room temperature, five days in the fridge, and by five months in the freezer.

What is the 120 pumping rule?

The first 12 weeks of your breastfeeding journey requires frequent breastmilk removal, stimulating healthy milk production. Studies show moms who exclusively pump for a minimum of 120 minutes per day can make enough to feed their babies primarily breastmilk.

What is the 2 hour rule for breast milk?

If your baby did not finish the bottle, leftover milk should be used within 2 hours. Wash disassembled pump and feeding parts in a clean basin with soap and water. Do not wash directly in the sink because the germs in the sink could contaminate items.

What time of day is breast milk quality?

Day milk, by contrast, has more activity-promoting amino acids than night milk. Iron in milk peaks at around noon; vitamin E peaks in the evening. Minerals like magnesium, zinc, potassium and sodium are all highest in the morning. Daytime milk may pack a special immune punch.