The ingredients of breast milk – what makes breast milk so special?

Mother’s milk is a real miracle of nature. This includes thanks to breastfeeding, mum can support the harmonious growth and proper development of the baby. Experts recommend that for the first six months of life, breast milk should be the only food for the baby. During this time, it satisfies the most important needs of the young organism. It is possible because breast milk is a comprehensive composition of nutrients that support the development of the baby. Do you know what makes it so special? You will find the answer in this article.

1. Mother’s milk is the perfect food for a developing baby
2. It is recommended that you exclusively breastfeed your baby for the first six months
3. What is in breast milk and how does it change over time? Details can be found below
4. You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page

“Made to measure” milk

After your baby is born, one of the first things you need to do is latch him to the breast. As recommended by experts from the World Health Organization (WHO), an infant should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life. After this time, it is time to expand the diet, but it is recommended to continue feeding the mother’s milk – even until the child is around 2 years old, as long as the mother and the baby want it.

Mother’s milk is the best food for a baby. The complex composition of nutrients it contains is particularly important, e.g. for the emerging immune system. The young body also needs them for proper growth and development, and this process occurs most intensively in the first years of life.

In order to meet the current needs of an infant, mum’s milk changes at different stages of its development. The first food an infant receives at birth is the so-called colostrum, which, compared to mature breast milk, contains more protein and minerals, and less fats and vitamins. It is important for building a child’s resilience1. In the weeks following the birth, your baby will receive transitional milk, which is richer in protein but contains less fat and lactose. A few weeks after birth, the composition of the food is normalized and the breasts produce mature milk. It is more caloric, contains more fats and vitamins, and less protein. It is worth knowing that the proportions of certain components of mum’s milk adjust, for example, to the season and the sex of the child2. The boy feeds differently and the girl feeds differently. The composition of mother’s milk may also change during the day – a baby fed at night receives more caloric food, better satisfying hunger.

These ingredients of mom’s milk are crucial

While breastmilk can change, there are several key constituents in its composition. Female food consists of as much as 87 percent. from water, therefore it perfectly satisfies the thirst of the infant (therefore, when exclusively breastfeeding the baby, there is no need to additionally refine it). The rest are ingredients, the combination of which creates the perfect composition that meets the needs of the child. Among them are:

1. Lactose – the main carbohydrate in breast milk. It is a source of easily digestible energy necessary for the development and growth of a child. In addition, it facilitates the absorption of calcium, necessary, among others for building strong bones.
2. Fats, including polyunsaturated fatty acids (DHA), which are very important for the development of the brain and the retina of the eye.
3. Oligosaccharides – the third largest solid component of mother’s milk. Oligosaccharides promote the rapid development of beneficial bacteria of the genus Bifidobacterium or Lactobacillus and ensure their advantage in the gastrointestinal tract.
4. Protein – the main building component of all cells. What is contained in mother’s milk is primarily used to produce new cells.
5. Vitamins and minerals – support the harmonious development of the child, the functioning of the organs and, among others, building immunity. They also support cognitive development and are an essential component of a child’s teeth and bones3.
6. Nucleotides – are building blocks of DNA. Their presence in mother’s milk supports the development of the immune system as well as the growth of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract.
7. Other unique ingredients of human milk, including but not limited to antibodies, hormones and enzymes support the immune system. Enzymes, of which there are more than 80 in breast milk, act, among others, anti-inflammatory. Hormones are responsible for the balance of energy and the feeling of satiety and hunger, and antibodies are a barrier that protects the baby against infections.

What to do when mom cannot breastfeed?

Breastfeeding is best for your baby, but it’s not always possible. Not only at the beginning of motherhood, but also in the second half of the child’s life, a woman may struggle with lactation problems, caused by, for example, too little food. In such a situation, it is worth consulting a midwife or a lactation consultant. Sometimes it is enough to change the feeding technique.

However, if attempts to stimulate lactation do not bring the expected results, and the mother does not decide to continue breastfeeding (e.g. due to return to work), the solution may be mixed feeding – latching the baby to the breast and giving him the next milk. It is worth consulting a pediatrician who knows the needs and body of the child when choosing the product best suited to the baby’s needs.

Important information: Breastfeeding is the most appropriate and cheapest way of feeding infants and is recommended for young children along with a varied diet. Mother’s milk contains the nutrients necessary for the proper development of the baby and protects it against diseases and infections. Breastfeeding gives the best results when the mother is properly nourished during pregnancy and lactation, and when there is no unjustified feeding of the baby. Before deciding to change the feeding method, the mother should consult her doctor.

Footnotes:

1. https://www.bebiprogram.pl/ciaza/karmienie-piersia/zalety-karmienia-piersia/czym-jest-siara
2. Mikulska A., Szajewska H., Horvath A., Rachtan-Janicka J., Guide to breastfeeding according to the recommendations of the Polish Society of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition for Children, PZWL Medical Publishing, Warsaw 2021, p. 19.
3. Ballard O., Morrow AL., Human milk composition: nutrients and bioactive factors. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2013;60(1): 49-74.