Mum's Breast Milk Turns Green After Life-Threatening Allergic Episode
A mother from Devon has revealed how she nearly died after suffering a freak allergic reaction to her own body, an incident so severe it caused her breast milk to turn a startling bright green colour. Tia Doyle, a 31-year-old director of a family pub company, described waking in the middle of the night with intense stomach pain, initially mistaking it for food poisoning.
Rapid Collapse and Hospital Emergency
Within minutes of waking, Tia's airways began to close, and she collapsed unconscious on the floor. Her former partner discovered her unresponsive and rushed her to hospital, where doctors confirmed she was experiencing anaphylaxis—a potentially fatal allergic reaction. Tia, a mother of two with no prior history of allergies, underwent extensive testing that revealed a diagnosis of monoclonal mast cell activation syndrome.
This rare immunological disorder causes recurrent allergy episodes that can develop at any age, often without a specific trigger. According to the NHS, symptoms may be prompted by factors such as eating, physical exertion, environmental conditions, emotional stress, or insect stings. Tia believes the stress and exhaustion of caring for her three-month-old newborn may have contributed to the episode.
Bizarre Symptom: Green Breast Milk
After being discharged from hospital, Tia noticed her breast milk had transformed into a putrid, translucent green colour. Medical experts suggest this change can occur due to an increase in immunoglobulins, white blood cells, and leukocytes—components that help combat illness. "When I got out of hospital, I needed to express milk and for the rest of the day it was just this clear putrid green colour," Tia recalled. "That was bizarre. Usually if you're ill, your body can sense it and triggers something in your system, which is why the breast milk can change colour."
Living with Uncertainty and Fear
Tia, who lives in Torquay, Devon, expressed ongoing fear about her condition, noting that anaphylaxis can be deadly without immediate treatment. "I think if my partner hadn't woken up, I would've died," she said. "My body was starting to shut down. My throat was swollen, my breathing was so constricted." She now uses a panic alarm at home as a precaution, especially as a single mother with two young children.
The specialist treating Tia indicated that the cause of her disorder remains unknown, though hormonal changes after childbirth might have played a role. "It can be caused by anything and everything," Tia explained. "There doesn't necessarily have to be a specific trigger. I obviously had a reaction to something within my own body that I had a reaction to in my sleep." Her story highlights the unpredictable nature of rare allergic conditions and the importance of swift medical intervention.
