Breast milk contains the perfect combination of vitamins, proteins and fats to ensure optimal growth for your baby. These nutritional components are easily absorbed and digested. The composition of breast milk is also constantly changing to meet your baby’s needs. It is a dynamic fluid that not only changes over the course of lactation but also from feed to feed and will vary based on whether your baby is born at term or prematurely.
***Key Points***
Breastfeeding has many benefits for both the mother and baby. Breast milk provides the ideal nutritional for an infant whilst supporting their growth, immune system and development.
The composition of breast milk changes over time.
Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first 6 months
***Key Points***
***Colostrum***
Colostrum is the ‘first milk’ your body starts to produce and is high in protein and nutrient dense with more than 2/3rds of the cells in colostrum being white blood cells that help fight infection. Specific antibodies and growth factors in colostrum help line the baby’s intestines and promote the growth of good bacteria in the gut. Minerals such as magnesium and zinc are found in high quantities in colostrum and are essential for supporting the developing heart and brain.
Colostrum is also protective against jaundice. Babies are born high levels of red blood cells which are needed to carry oxygen around the body. However, when these blood cells break down, the by-product is called bilirubin. A baby’s liver can be too immature to break down this bilirubin and it can build up quickly. The laxative properties of colostrum help the baby excrete this excessive bilirubin in their poo.
***Colostrum***
***Bonding***
The physical closeness of breastfeeding helps calm your baby and help them feel more secure. Placing your baby skin to skin helps regulate a their heart rate, breathing rate, temperature and blood sugar levels.
***Bonding***
***Immune system***
Babies are born with immature immune systems that develop over time as they are exposed to germs. One way to support a baby’s immune system is through breastfeeding because antibodies already developed by the mother get passed through breast milk and help the baby fight of viruses and bacteria. Babies that have been exclusively breastfed for 6 months have fewer ear infections, illness of the respiratory tract, episodes of diarrhoea, a reduced risk of asthma and allergies and few hospitalisations.
Breastfeeding has also been demonstrated to reduce the risk of Sudden Unexpected Deaths in Infancy and reduces the risk of a baby dying suddenly and unexpectedly by more than 50%. These protective factors of breastfeeding increase the longer breastfeeding continues.
***Immune system***
***Long term benefits***
Breastfeeding beyond 6 months and during the introduction of solids assists with providing balanced nutrition. There is never a known age that breast milk becomes nutritionally insignificant and has many benefits through infancy and beyond.
The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months. Once solids are introduced they recommend breastfeeding until 2 years and beyond. How long you consider breastfeeding for is decision made within your family considering what is best for you and your baby.***Long term benefits***
REFERENCES
https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/breastmilk-composition
