We have all heard about the importance of breast milk and breastfeeding a baby. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the baby should consume only breast milk for the first six months after its birth. Even after solids are introduced into a baby, it is recommended to continue breastfeeding at least till the baby turns one. Breastfeeding provides the baby a nutritional advantage and helps to increase immunity power in the body naturally. Where it is not possible to exclusively breastfeed the baby because the mother needs to return to work or is required to stay away for long durations of time, it is still possible to help the baby consume breast milk by using a breast pump. The breast milk can be pumped and stored in breast milk storage bottles in the refrigerator (for use within 24 hours) or frozen in breast milk storage bags (for use after 24 hours of being pumped).
The reason why breast milk is so significant for the growth and development of a baby is that it contains all the nourishment that the baby requires during the first year of its life. Breast milk contains carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, digestive enzymes, immunity boosters, good microbes, and hormones. All of these ingredients work together in various proportions to enable the infant baby to grow up healthy and strong. Being dynamic in composition, it quickly adapts to the changing needs of the baby. Composed of water, lactose, protein, and fat, breast milk may be divided into foremilk containing more whey protein and hindmilk with more of casein protein. The milk protein content also varies during the stages of growth of the baby.
The difference between casein and whey protein is mainly in the consistency that it gives to breast milk. Whey protein is more liquid in consistency and is an easy-to-digest protein. The casein protein in milk has the tendency to form clots or curdle in the stomach, making it more difficult for the baby’s stomach to digest.
Did you know that the contents, color, volume, taste, and consistency of breast milk do not remain the same all through the time when the baby is breastfed? There are three phases of breast milk, each of which provides nourishment in various forms to the growing baby.
Colostrum is the first milk that is produced by the mother’s body towards the end of the pregnancy and just after giving birth. Colostrum is rich in antibodies and white blood cells and is packed with protein and provides the infant with all that it needs in the first few days after birth. It is available only for the first 2-4 days after birth. Thick in consistency and yellow in color, colostrum contains the same nutrients as the milk produced in the later stages but the proportion of the ingredients is designed to suit the feeding requirements of a newborn baby. Colostrum is also known to be a natural laxative that helps the baby to flush out the meconium in its body and prevent jaundice. It is important to be feeding the newborn with as much colostrum as possible so that it can be utilized to the optimum.
After the first 2-4 days, the colostrum in the breast milk is gradually replaced by more mature milk called Transitional Milk. The color of the transitional milk is bluish-white and it is available to the baby for a few days up to two weeks after delivery. This milk is creamy and contains high amounts of proteins, vitamins, fat, and lactose. As the baby continues to feed and the breast is emptied of milk, the supply of milk to the breast also increases to match the baby’s feeding requirements. If the breast is not emptied sufficiently, it could lead to engorgement which can be very painful for the mother.
By the time the baby is two weeks old, breast milk consists of mature milk which is lower in protein but high in fat and carbohydrates. Mature milk contains up to 90% water. It is important to feed the baby for longer durations once the breasts start producing mature milk. This is because if the baby only consumes the foremilk, it will only take in the watery portion of the milk. Only when the baby continues sucking, the hindmilk with the bulk of nutrition is released.
If the baby is unable to latch well and suckle or is not consuming the breast milk in sufficient quantities to empty the breast, it is good to use a breast pump and remove the milk. Only if the breast is emptied of milk, a new and fuller supply of milk can be derived.
