Human breast milk consists of more than 200 essential elements that are vital for an infant’s growth and development. The unique thing about breast milk is that it customizes naturally as per the requirements of your baby. So, the breast milk produced for a full-term baby v/s the milk produced for a premature baby is different to meet individual infant’s growth requirements.
That’s why there’s no
other alternative to breast milk. It is suggested that all newborn babies are
breastfed for at least six months and it’s also a major part of your infant’s
diet till she/she turns a year old.
Why Breast Milk is the
Best Baby Food?
Since breast milk
contains the right amount of essential elements and nutrients needed for your
baby at each growing stage, it’s known to be the best baby food source. Breast milk
also protects babies against infections while minimizing the risk of other
health-related problems that may occur later in life, such as obesity, asthma
and diabetes.
As per a study
conducted by the WHO, breastfeeding can decrease the chances of obesity in your
child by around 25%. It again proves that breast milk includes all the necessary
elements needed for your baby’s body to develop, grow, survive, and mature.
Different Stages of
Lactation
There are three
different stages of lactation in new mothers:
l
Colostrum: It is the secretion
released at the first few days (around 1 to 7 days) after delivery. It contains
a higher protein amount, a good amount of immunizing factors, and fewer fats for
a newborn.
l
Transitional Milk: This milk is produced
while transitioning from colostrum to mature breast milk. It is a stage where
lactation is established while milk production starts in the breast tissue.
This milk is released 8 to 20 days after the birth.
l
Mature Milk: This breast milk is
released after 20 days of birth. It varies between individuals. Even the energy
levels in the milk vary somewhere between 270 and 315 kJ per 100mL. It is
mainly due to the fat content variation, as the fat in milk consumed by an
infant rises as the breastfeeding progresses. The mature milk also provides all
the necessary immune factors and other non-nutritional components to
infants.
Composition of Breast
Milk
Breast milk contains important
nutrients needed by an infant for proper development and growth.
l
Free water: 85-88%
l
Proteins: Protein consists of 75% of
nitrogen-containing compounds. It also includes non-protein nitrogen elements
like peptides, urea, nucleotides, DNA, and free amino acids.
l
Carbohydrates: The major carbohydrate source in breast
milk is lactose.
l
Fats: Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and
essential fatty acids.
l Other vitamins, minerals, and trace elements.
|
Nutrient |
Mean Value in Breast
Milk (100 ml) |
|
Protein |
1.3 g |
|
Fat |
4.2 g |
|
Carbohydrate |
7 g |
|
Sodium |
15 mg |
|
Calcium |
35 mg |
|
Phosphorus |
15 mg |
|
Iron |
76 mcg |
|
Vitamin A |
60 mcg |
|
Vitamin C |
3.8 mg |
|
Vitamin D |
0.01 mcg |
|
Magnesium |
3.5 mg |
Immune-related growth
factors and components include:
l
Bioactive Cytokines: Containing
interleukin- 10 (IL-10) and transitioning growth factor-b (TGF-b) 1 and 2.
l
Secretory IgA: Predominant
immunoglobulin.
l
Others: Lysozyme, leukocytes,
oligosaccharides, adiponectin, lactoferrin, epidermal growth factor (EGF),
interferon-g and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1.
Conclusion
Due to all the
important nutrients and other essential elements, breast milk is important for
newborns. But if you have any problems breastfeeding your baby, you need to
consult a lactation consultant.
Many women who face
issues during breastfeeding grasping techniques can benefit from expert
guidance. You may even consult a pediatrician to understand more about an
infant’s overall health.
