Breast milk: properties and benefits for mother and baby
Choosing breast milk is the best decision for both mother and baby if there are no impediments to breastfeeding.
In this article you will discover all its advantages and why you should prefer it to formula milk.
Breastfeeding is irreplaceable
Breast milk is a unique and irreplaceable food . WHO guidelines recommend exclusive breastfeeding until the sixth month of life . Furthermore, they report that it is important that breast milk remains a priority choice until two years of age and for as long as it pleases mother and child.
This is because breast milk is an impossible food to replicate . In fact, it cannot be compared to formula milk at all.
Just think that its composition varies over time and during the feeding itself . From a liquid and sugary milk at the beginning to a thicker and more substantial milk later. This is to allow the baby to quench his thirst and be satisfied.
Furthermore, from the attachment to the breast, the milk can vary in case it perceives a period of cooling of the baby. In fact, it will increase the quantity of antibodies and will be more liquid precisely to help him fight the cold.
These are just some of the potential and benefits of breast milk, below you will find all its advantages in detail.
The composition of breast milk
Immediately after birth, colostrum is produced, or the first milk. This is yellow in color and rich in substances that are very important for the baby. You can discover all its properties in the dedicated article .
Later, after the milk has come in, the actual milk production will begin.
As we said, this varies according to the needs of the little one, but we can list what it contains:
- Antibodies : protect the baby from diseases;
- Hormones : regulate appetite and promote the mother-child bond;
- Stem cells : support development;
- White blood cells : to fight infections;
- Beneficial bacteria : help and protect your baby's digestive system;
- Oligosaccharides: probiotics that promote gut health;
- Long-chain fatty acids : These help support the development of your baby's brain, nervous system and eyes;
- Enzymes : for the digestive and immune systems;
- Nucleotides and hormones : to regulate sleep-wake cycle.
Breast Milk vs Formula Milk Nutrients
Formula milk is cow's milk modified for the needs of the newborn. However, it cannot be compared to the complex breast milk for several reasons:
- Many proteins in breast milk are not only needed for the growth of the baby, but also have a functional role . An example are IgA antibodies that protect against infections. There are no antibodies in formula milk.
- Breast milk contains some sugars ( oligosaccharides and glycoproteins ) that are not present in formula milk;
- In formula milk there is no lipase enzyme, unlike breast milk, which allows the newborn to better digest the polyunsaturated fatty acids essential for the baby. In addition, these are present in greater quantities in mother's milk.
- Breast milk also contains other components that make it unique and inimitable!
How composition changes over time
As we said, the OMG reports that it is important to maintain breast milk as the main food in the first year of the baby's life .
After the first year, milk does not lose nutrients , but it changes its composition . In addition, it is possible to notice an increase in substances useful for the immune system . This is probably because the child becomes more and more autonomous; therefore, it requires an extra dose of protection.
The benefits of breast milk
Breastfeeding brings countless benefits , some of which are even scientifically proven . Let's look at them in detail.