The miraculous properties of mature breast milk and colostrum: when colostrum appears, what is its uniqueness and significance for the development of the crumbs. Breast milk: composition, taste and physiology of lactation

28.07.2019

The unique composition of breast milk and its beneficial properties help the child to fully eat and develop in accordance with age. Many women do not even think about what breast milk consists of. If every mother knew about the components included in its composition and their effect on the child's body, then the attitude towards the duration of breastfeeding has changed significantly. No artificial formula can give your baby all the valuable nutrients that he can get from breast milk.

In general, colostrum is better called a harbinger of breast milk, and not its variety. Its production usually begins even before childbirth - in the 3rd trimester. After the birth of a child, this clear, thick liquid with a high calorie content is released from the chest for several days. These properties allow the newborn to satisfy hunger, taking into account the small size of the stomach.

Due to the fact that immediately after birth, the baby's body, in particular the intestines, is just beginning to adapt to the new environment, colostrum is essential for his life.

Beneficial features:

the substances that make up the composition do not differ much in structure from the tissues of the newborn
helps to form local immunity in a child
promotes the rapid elimination of meconium from the body, thereby preventing the appearance of jaundice
has a fairly high calorie content, which gradually decreases as colostrum passes into the mature milk phase
performs a transitional function - from intrauterine nutrition to mature milk
prepares the walls of the gastrointestinal tract for full breastfeeding
the composition contains a large amount of ascorbic acid, mineral salts, proteins, secretory immunoglobulin A, vitamins of groups A and B
prevents the risk of metabolic stress that occurs during the processing of large volumes of liquid

So that the child does not remain hungry, it is enough for him to eat only 50-100 ml of colostrum per day.

From colostrum to transitional milk

3-5 days after birth, women's breast milk enters the "transitional" phase. It is more liquid than colostrum, as it contains a small amount of water that the newborn's kidneys are already able to process.

Early transitional milk is formed by increasing the activity of blood circulation in the mammary glands under the influence of hormonal levels. The volume of milk produced increases slightly, the composition changes. The content of proteins, mineral salts, vitamins A and E decreases, but the amount of vitamin B, fats and carbohydrates increases. Changes are explained by the needs of the baby.

After about a week, the composition begins to stabilize - late transitional milk appears. Now the volume of milk produced is controlled by autocrine regulation - exactly as much milk appears in the breast as the child eats.

Transitional milk properties:

Increased Sugar - Transitional milk includes lactose, which is the most easily digestible source of energy. Thanks to lactose, the crumbs have the strength for physical activity. Also, the substance favorably affects the development of the nervous system and brain.
The HAMLET complex is a natural prevention of oncological diseases in infants and includes two components: oleic acid and whey protein. Even in cases where the tumor began to develop in utero, due to this component, pathological cells die.
The high content of fats and sugars helps the newborn to quickly adapt to new conditions, promotes the proper formation and growth of organs and tissues.

mature milk

The transitional milk stage ends around the second week of a baby's life. Further, mature milk is gradually formed, which will not change dramatically throughout breastfeeding. The only changes are a slow decrease in protein and an increase in carbohydrates.

Once in the body of the crumbs, breast milk coagulates into tiny flakes. Cow or goat milk is unacceptable for feeding newborns, as it is too heavy a product for the gastrointestinal tract of crumbs.

Due to the fact that women's milk has body temperature, it enters the child's body almost sterile. The composition contains bactericidal substances that are essential for the baby in the first months of life. The components of female breast milk a priori cannot be antigens for a child.

GW is also necessary for the normal development of the emotional component. During breastfeeding, bodily contact occurs, allowing the child to feel completely safe in the “new” world for him.

Factors affecting the composition change

First of all, the chemical composition of breast milk changes depending on the stage of lactation. It is also influenced by many factors: the frequency of feeding, the duration of breastfeeding, the age of the child.

The composition and properties of breast milk can change based on the needs of the baby. When a child or mother is sick, antibodies appear in it, allowing them to cope with the disease without the use of medicines. In mothers who gave birth before the due date, colostrum can last much longer - about two weeks. In women who have given birth to twins and breastfeed each child, the composition of milk in each breast is different, that is, it adapts to the needs of each of the children. Growth spurts in the baby also affect the composition, it is during this period that more fat appears in it.

The content of antibodies depends on the age factor. So, until the age of six months, their number gradually decreases, allowing the body of the crumbs to begin independent production against the background of a high level of antibodies transmitted to it from the mother. After six months, the amount of antibodies in the composition of the milk increases again, as the child begins to contact with a large number of people and objects. For example, a trip to the clinic, the store. The growth of immunity defenders is determined by the need to protect the child from infectious agents.

From the age of three months, motor activity increases markedly. That is why the child needs more fat. Consequently, the components of a woman's breast milk adapt to this need.

Daily changes:

During the day - half an hour after the end of feeding, a lot of fat is produced in milk. This suggests that if you change the frequency of feeding, then it will be fatty almost always. However, the feeding regimen does not affect the content of carbohydrates and proteins.
Depending on the mother's nutrition, only certain components undergo changes: polyunsaturated fatty acids, iodine, water-soluble vitamins, selenium.
During feeding, foremilk is initially released, saturated with vitamins, lactose, and protein. At the end of feeding, hindmilk begins to be released, in which fats and fat-soluble vitamins predominate.

All of the above factors indicate that mother and child are inextricably linked. The mother's body instantly adapts to the needs of the baby in order to give him everything necessary for full growth and development. Hence the conclusion that artificial mixtures are much inferior to breastfeeding.

Composition and properties

The main components and their brief characteristics:

Proteins - their volume as a percentage is quite small, regardless of the stage of feeding - about 1%. This amount is quite enough for the full growth of organs and tissues, the production of new cells. Proteins also form the immune and nervous systems, are responsible for the production of enzymes, create a film on the surface of the intestine, which prevents the passage of gases. The latter is essential for babies in order to protect them from colic, which often bother formula-fed babies.
Fats - their amount is slightly higher - about 4%. Main functions: regulation of weight gain, development of the nervous system and brain, formation of a healthy psyche of the baby. This is the only component, the content of which directly depends on the nutrition of the mother. It is for this reason that breastfeeding mothers are advised not to eat saturated fats.
Water is the fundamental ingredient. The composition of human milk does not include water similar to boiled or drinking water. The water in breast milk is easier to digest and does not overload the kidneys.
Carbohydrates, in particular lactose, are responsible for the nutritional value and sweetness of the product. They are responsible for the formation of the nervous system and the brain. Carbohydrates are not completely processed by the body of the newborn and are excreted naturally. Until recently, doctors believed that the detection of lactose in the analysis of feces indicates intolerance to breast milk. At the moment, a whole range of studies is used to make a reliable diagnosis. Even if intolerance has been detected, breastfeeding should not be abandoned, as it is possible to maintain natural feeding by adjusting the child's diet.

Breast milk, the composition and properties of which cannot be replaced by any of the modern artificial mixtures, helps the child to fully grow and develop comprehensively. Breastfeeding specialists are always ready to help women with problems. It is important to try to maintain breastfeeding for at least the first two years of a child's life.

The recommendations of the World Health Organization sound like an urgent call for breastfeeding children from the first minutes of their lives. The international community unanimously believes that for a child it serves as the best type of nutrition, regardless of the individual characteristics of the body of each baby. It has been scientifically proven that up to six months, milk provides 100% of all the nutritional needs of a little man. For children older than 6 months, it supplies 50% of the daily nutritional requirement. Having reached the age of 1 year, the baby takes from him only 1/3 of all the elements he needs. However, this indicator does not mean that milk becomes useless.

Breastfeeding is the best type of food for a baby, experts say

La Leche League experts argue that long-term breastfeeding brings invaluable benefits to children. Babies receive nutrition from their mothers that is easily absorbed by their body, contains a lot of elements important for the development of the child, and creates a strong immune system. In addition, the liquid formed in the mother's breast is absolutely safe for the baby, it does not cause allergies, and helps to avoid mental and physiological defects.

The very process of breastfeeding forever brings mother and child together, giving rise to a high emotional connection in them. This is one of the factors that clearly prove the need for full breastfeeding.

What is the composition of primary and mature milk?

Studies have shown that breast milk is a plastic material, the composition of which is constantly undergoing changes that are aimed at adjusting it to the child's body. The instability of the contents does not depend on the mother's diet. Moreover, it is subject to changes several times a day, at the beginning of feeding and after it. The factor that certainly affects the quality is the age of the child. The ratio of components (proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins) varies according to the age needs of babies. Consider the varieties of milk according to their value and time of arrival.

Breast milk, as it were, "grows" with the child - its composition changes in the process of growing up crumbs

Valuable colostrum

The first portion of nutrition that the baby receives at the hour of birth is colostrum. Colostrum looks like a sticky thick yellow liquid. It stands out quite a bit, which makes mothers worry if this amount is enough for the baby. Particularly excited are primiparous women, in whom colostrum appears in meager droplets. Mothers who give birth not for the first time know about the peculiarities of the first portions of milk and worry less, and they get more of it.

Despite the fact that the average daily volume of colostrum is only 30 ml, its high density provides an increased energy capacity. The calorie content of the product is 150 kcal per 100 ml.

For comparison, let's say that as soon as colostrum turns into milk, the calorie content drops to 70 kcal per 100 ml. Undoubtedly, those droplets that the baby sucks out in the first days completely fill his body with nutrients.

The composition of colostrum is unique and rich, it contains a large amount of proteins, minerals, fat-soluble vitamins (A, E). There are few carbohydrates, they are represented by milk sugar (lactase). The percentage of fat is also low. Due to the presence of these elements, colostrum has important beneficial properties:

Provides growth and formation of immune protection. Working in combination, the beneficial substances of colostrum create "passive immunity" that protects the baby up to 2 months, they activate growth factors and contribute to proper development.
High nutritional value. The calorie content of colostrum is 2 times higher than that of a mature product, which allows it to fully meet the energy needs of the crumbs.
High protein content. The main "building material" is 15% and exceeds the rate of milk by 3 times. Colostrum lays a strong foundation for the development of the bones and muscles of the baby (see also:).

Transition milk time

Transitional breast milk is so named because it forms immediately after colostrum (1.5-3 days after birth) and continues to be produced until it reaches maturity. At the same time, there is a sharp change in the content, which is expressed in a rise in the level of lactose. The resulting milk sugar gives the nutrient fluid a sweet taste. Naturally, with the addition of lactose, the volume of nutrition produced by the mammary gland increases.

The breastfeeding woman feels the arrival of transitional milk with heat and tingling in the mammary glands. The days when transitional milk is formed are characterized by an increased volume of milk, it becomes more than the child needs at this age. After feeding the baby, the mother realizes that the breast is not empty, she continues to feel that breast milk overflows her. It is recommended to express. In a few days or weeks, the body of a nursing woman will be able to tune in to the needs of the baby: breast milk will arrive exactly in the amount required by a small growing body.

Properties of transitional milk

Although the transition from colostrum to milk takes a short time, transitional milk has time to give a lot to the baby. The invaluable composition of transitional milk ensures the normal course of important processes for the child. In detail, improving the quality of breast milk looks like this:

The level of fats that are required for the adaptation of the child's body to the realities of the surrounding world grows. Fats give strength for growth, are involved in the formation of tissues and the development of internal organs.

Transitional milk is high in fat

The amount of sugar represented by lactose increases. Lactose is well absorbed by the intestines, processed in it, provides the child's motor activity. In this case, 40% of the substance is consumed. The remaining 60% of lactose is transformed into substances necessary for the proper development of the central nervous system and brain.
The HAMLET complex appears. This name was given to an element discovered by scientists that can resist tumors. HAMLET consists of whey protein and oleic acid. "Smart" couple causes the death of tumor cells formed in the baby's body in the womb. Today, medicine offers anticancer drugs based on the "intelligent system" HAMLET. It is also scientifically proven that breastfeeding prevents the appearance of cancer in the baby.

Main mature milk

The main nutrition of the baby in the form of mature milk begins to form after 2 weeks from birth. Changes in the composition of breast milk appear even during one feeding session (see also:). However, the quality of breast milk remains at the same height. Mature breast milk is also divided according to location: anterior and posterior.

The baby receives the first (or fore) milk at the very beginning of breast sucking. Foremilk is watery in texture and usually pale bluish in color, and is used to help the baby drink. Contains protein, lactose and water.
If the child continues to suck at the breast, he chooses from it the back (or later) food located in the remote areas of the mammary glands. The hind milk is 4-5 times fatter than the fore milk, it flows out more slowly. Since its composition is more high-calorie, the baby receives a lot of substances and an energy supply.

Even a visual comparison of foremilk and hindmilk allows you to see their differences.

As you can see, the transition between two portions is small, so the mother should give the baby to suck for as long as he wants. What you should not do is feed by the clock. The famous doctor Komarovsky says that long sucking will allow the baby to pick up hind milk and get everything necessary for his full development.

Average composition of milk

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Knowing that the composition of mature milk is variable, we can only begin by deriving averages for the main elements. In addition to them, breast milk contains mineral salts, hydrolytic enzymes, hormones, and immune factors. If we look at the composition of breast milk through the eyes of a chemist, we will see a complex chemical compound with many elements. The table shows the averages of the important components of milk:

Composition components (g, mg)	Colostrum	transitional milk	mature milk
Proteins, g	2,3	1,6	1,1
	2,6	3,5	4,5
Lactose, g	5,7	6,4	6,8
Vitamin A, mg	0,16	0,09	0,06
Vitamin E, mg	1,5	0,9	0,2
Carotenoids, mg	0,14	0,04	0,02
Potassium, mg	74,0	64	50,0
Sodium, mg	50,0	30	17,0
Calcium, mg	48,0	46	34,0
Zinc, mg	1,2	3,8	5,6
Energy value in kcal	67,0	73,0	75,0

Main components and their properties

Let's take a closer look at the basis of human milk. These are three components - proteins, fats, carbohydrates, which we often count in our adult life. What is the benefit of breast milk? We will conduct a detailed analysis of the three components, taking into account their effects on the body:

Squirrels. According to our table, the amount of proteins is slightly more than 1 percent, this level is constantly maintained in milk. Nothing can affect the amount of protein: neither the disease nor the enhanced nutrition of the mother. The most important thing is that the given amount of protein is more than enough for the baby's body to form tissues, grow cells and organs. In addition, there are enough proteins to strengthen the immune system, and for the maturation of the nervous system, and to regulate the production of enzymes. With the direct participation of the component, a thin film is formed on the surface of the intestine, which prevents the passage of gases. The film prevents colic in infants.
. The percentage of fat that remains unchanged throughout breastfeeding is 4.5%. The component is important for the development of the central nervous system, the brain, weight gain and the formation of a stable psyche. Fats in milk are special, they mainly belong to polyunsaturated fatty acids, only a small part of them is represented by fatty acids (we recommend reading:). It should be said that the nutrition of a nursing mother changes the fat value of milk. Eating foods saturated with fatty acids (fries, pastries, sweets), the mother provokes a decrease in fat value. Women's milk becomes viscous, it is difficult for a child to suck it out, it increases the level of fats dangerous for the baby.
Carbohydrates. Necessary for energy supply, development of the nervous system and brain. The baby's body does not completely process carbohydrates, so his feces contain a certain amount of lactose. For a long time, this fact was attributed to the child's intolerance to breast milk. Recent studies have shown that only an in-depth analysis can confirm the diagnosis, and the intolerance itself can be corrected by properly building the diet of the crumbs.

It has been proven that the nutrition of a nursing mother cannot significantly affect the energy value of milk.

Water and minerals

The water that enters the baby's body as part of milk differs in structure from ordinary drinking or boiled water. Properly acting on the baby's kidneys, she does not allow them to be overloaded. In addition, all important substances are dissolved in water, which makes it easier for the baby's body to absorb them. There are not as many minerals in human milk as in mammals. However, as doctor Komarovsky confirms in his programs, they are enough to fully cover the needs of the child. The accumulation of vitamins in milk is directly dependent on the food that mother eats.

How does milk protect the baby?

An important feature of some components and their main value is their protective functions. So, the high quality of breast milk is provided by proteins immunoglobulins A, M, G. A special task is performed by immunoglobulin A, which creates protection for the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines. By coating the inner surface of the intestine, this protein protects it from the harmful effects of toxins and bacteria. The baby takes most of the immunoglobulin A from colostrum, because its body cannot yet produce such an important component on its own.

There are other substances with a protective function in it: bifidus factor, lactoferrin and lysozyme. Bifidus factor is a building material for bifidobacteria, which are necessary to prevent dysbacteriosis and other disorders in the intestines. Receiving a sufficient amount of the bifidus factor, the child is less susceptible to intestinal infections, he is less likely to suffer from diarrhea and colic. Lactoferin is able to take iron from pathogenic bacteria, which they need for reproduction, thereby preventing intestinal diseases.

Constantly receiving breast milk, the child grows strong and healthy, and his immunity increases.

Together with soluble components, the baby also receives insoluble cells with the same protective functions. Macrophages and white blood cells have the ability to engulf infectious bacteria and digest them. In addition, they are necessary for the production of specific immune substances, the action of which is aimed at destroying microbes that provoke various diseases.

What factors can change the composition of breast milk?

The composition of milk changes at each stage of lactation, we talked about this in detail in one of our materials. What else can change breast milk? The age of the child, the individual needs of his body, the duration of feeding - all these factors lead to changes in the composition of milk. Let's see how the changes are going according to needs:

An illness of a mother or baby causes the mother's body to produce antibodies that pass through her into milk. The antibodies created by the mother's body protect the baby and prevent its disease.
Premature births prolong the time it takes for colostrum to form. A premature baby can receive valuable nutrition from 4 days to two weeks.
When breastfeeding twins, the composition of milk varies in each breast differently. This factor is determined by the individual needs of the twins.
The period of growth activation causes an increase in fat in the composition of milk. The child needs it to replenish energy needs and to build tissues.

If a mother is breastfeeding twins, milk changes according to the needs of each child

Age-related changes in milk are associated with the development of the infant's immune system. A large need for immunoglobulin and antibodies in the first days by 6 months slightly decreases and increases again. Such fluctuations are important for the immune system, which is preparing for the independent production of these components. The stock of antibodies received by the child during fetal development from the mother is depleted, the baby's body is forced to grow them on its own.

Motherhood, from the point of view of psychological readiness, is laid from the very moment when the girl begins to realize her feminine principle. From that moment on, she begins to show interest in the relationship between mother and child. This interest is often manifested unconsciously, through the game, for example, in daughter-mothers. Thus, the girl experiences the model of family relations that is being formed in her mind, gets acquainted with her future role as a mother. Therefore, it is more correct to speak of motherhood as well as a skill, and not just as an instinct inherent in nature.

As a girl prepares for motherhood throughout her conscious life, the body of a future mother learns to produce milk for a baby according to an individual recipe during the entire period of pregnancy. With special trepidation, the future young mother awaits the moment of pregnancy, when colostrum appears. The secretion of this unique liquid from the breast during pregnancy signals the preparation of the mother's body for breastfeeding. What is colostrum and why is mother's milk so necessary for a newborn?

Colostrum is a thick, high-calorie, sticky liquid of a white, orange or yellow hue that begins to be produced in the body from the first weeks of pregnancy. An inexperienced mother who does not know what color colostrum should be, such unusual tones can alert. However, this phenomenon is quite natural. Warm shades are given to this nutrient liquid by carotene, a pigment that is a precursor of vitamin A and is found in large quantities in.

Primary mother's milk has a salty taste. This is due to the significant content of sodium chloride. Salted colostrum is well absorbed, as the qualitative composition of proteins and salts is close to blood serum.

Colostrum is excreted in rather small portions. The volume of the first doses of colostrum is only 10-40 ml, but due to its nutritional value and value, it fully satisfies the needs of the baby. This small amount of food is also associated with the very small size of the stomach of newborn children.

Colostrum, being the forerunner of transitional and mature milk, also differs in terms of its composition. Colostrum and mature breast milk are often referred to as "white gold" or "elixir of life". The healing liquid is endowed with these epithets for its amazing properties.

Colostrum is very high in calories, but at the same time it does not pose a serious burden on the organs of the gastrointestinal tract and liver.
"Elixir of Life" is rich in immunoglobulins, macrophages, leukocytes that protect the intestines and the entire body of the baby from the effects of infections. The highest concentration of these protective substances is observed in the first hours of lactation. It is these substances that provide the strongest immune defense of the body and create favorable conditions for full development.
Colostrum contains more protein, carotene, vitamins A, B12, E, K, mineral salts than in mature milk. The share of fats and milk sugar, on the contrary, is somewhat lower.
The growth factors contained in the healing maternal fluid prevent the appearance of allergies in the baby.
Colostrum has a laxative effect, which is very important when removing the original stool (meconium). This factor reduces the likelihood of developing physiological jaundice in children who are breastfed.

It is with these features that the huge benefits of breastfeeding a newborn are associated.

When does colostrum begin to be secreted?

The expectant mother can notice the release of colostrum on the mammary glands from the 13th week of pregnancy. Bright droplets of the substance can appear on a woman's nipples after taking a shower, during intense physical activity, or on hot summer days. At the same time, most often the appearance of colostrum on the nipples or underwear, the expectant mother notices in the third trimester, when the liquid begins to be released most intensively.

For some women, colostrum does not appear on the surface of the breast during the entire period of pregnancy. This is due only to the characteristics of the glandular tissue of the breast. Most likely, the fluid is enough space for the lobes and ramifications of the ducts in the mammary glands.

It should be noted that the process of excretion of colostrum during pregnancy is not a factor confirming the appearance of the required volume of milk at the birth of a child. Just like the lack of milk during pregnancy does not mean that a woman will not be able to breastfeed her baby.

transitional milk

From 4-5 days after delivery, transitional milk begins to be produced in the female breast. This substance, no less useful than colostrum, is rich in fats and, in its composition and appearance, approaches mature milk.

Transitional milk changes its color to white or light blue. The concentration of sodium, carotene, vitamins and other useful substances in this liquid is gradually decreasing, but at the same time the proportion of carbohydrates and B vitamins increases. The volume of milk in a nursing mother also increases markedly.
Salted colostrum is gradually replaced by lactose-rich sweet transitional milk. Lactose is involved in the development of the baby's nervous system, functions as the main energy component. This disaccharide affects the formation of beneficial intestinal microflora.
Transitional milk contains the most important complex of components that protect the child's body from tumor cells, causing their self-destruction. The scientists called these unique compounds the HAMLET complex, which is widely studied for the manufacture of anticancer drugs.

Transitional mother's milk will be produced until the baby reaches two weeks of age. Then it will be replaced by mature milk, which the baby will eat until the end of the breastfeeding period.

mature milk

After how much mature milk should come and when should colostrum appear? After 2-3 weeks after birth, transitional milk is replaced by mature milk. It is worth noting that the composition of all described breastfeeding products has not been fully studied. To date, approximately 500 useful components have been identified that contain mother's milk.

How useful is breast milk for a child and what is the secret of its uniqueness? Directly in the unique composition lies an amazing phenomenon and the amazing value of female breast milk.

The milk of a nursing woman contains a significant amount of water (up to 87%). This property allows you to refute the fact that the baby definitely needs to be supplemented. In addition, breast milk is significantly superior in useful properties to the best quality water. Mother's milk is a biologically active liquid, enriched with salts, vitamins and many other elements necessary for the child.
Mature milk is rich in carbohydrates, including lactose. This disaccharide improves the absorption of calcium and iron, saturates the brain and promotes the development of the baby's nervous system. Human milk contains much more milk sugar than other mammals. For example, female dolphins, one of the most “intelligent” animals, rank second in lactose content in milk.
Mature milk, like colostrum, is rich in proteins. Their special value for the child is due to the fact that each of these unique proteins is specially produced by the mother's body based on the specific needs of her child.
The benefit of breast milk also lies in the fact that it is easily digested and absorbed by the baby's digestive system. This feature is associated with the content in the "miraculous elixir" of special enzymes that speed up the digestion process.
The properties of breast milk and its vitamin composition are associated with the nutrition of the mother. But, this does not mean that if the mother's diet is not varied, then the baby will not receive any components. The female body produces certain reserves of nutrients already at the stage of pregnancy. Therefore, often with a deficiency of certain substances, the mother's body uses these reserves. Therefore, mature milk is always balanced and contains the necessary composition.
The temperature of breast milk is optimal for feeding and maintaining the integrity of all components, which are the benefits of breast milk.
Mom's milk is also a source of beneficial bacteria, which are so necessary for the intestines of a newborn. The flora of the baby contains up to 99% of the necessary probiotics, which play a huge role in the development of the immune system of the crumbs.
Surprising is the fact that with an infectious disease of a nursing mother, her milk changes its composition, being enriched with antibodies that will help the baby not become infected with the disease or it is easier to endure it. Thus, breastfeeding is also an amazing unique protection for the baby.
The benefits of breast milk after a year do not decrease, despite numerous misconceptions. During this period, its function gradually changes. By the age of one, the baby is introduced to many foods, from which the baby receives the necessary nutrients. Therefore, the role of milk as a nutrient gradually decreases, although the concentration of fats in it increases. At the same time, the importance of milk as a natural antioxidant is preserved.

This list contains only a small fraction of the healing properties of the miraculous mother elixir. That is why breast milk is so important for a newborn. These factors cannot reflect the full benefits of breastfeeding, since many of its phenomena are not fully understood. Every year, scientists discover more and more beneficial compounds in human milk.

About composition variability

Milk in lactating women has an amazing ability to transform. Moreover, the composition of nutrients may vary depending on the needs of the baby. The color and content of colostrum changes throughout pregnancy and after childbirth, and how colostrum or mature breast milk looks like coming out of the breast depends on many factors, including the age of the baby. The composition of milk is different at different times of the day, at the beginning and end of feeding. It will change its properties if the baby is born prematurely or gets sick, if the baby is frightened or has painful gums, and in many other situations when the baby's body needs support.

Fore and hind milk

Mature human milk is usually divided into early and late, it is also called foremilk and hindmilk. At the beginning of feeding, foremilk is released from the breast, at the end - hindmilk. The difference between these nutrient fluids is palpable not only visually. What is fore and hind milk is well known to a nursing woman who has resorted to decanting. Foremilk has a bluish tint, rich in water, lactose, mineral salts, vitamins. The hindmilk is a rich white color and contains a large amount of fat. The density of the anterior breast milk is higher due to the lactose, minerals it contains. Therefore, hindmilk accumulates on the surface during pumping, forming a less dense and light component. In the container, these substances will differ significantly, a kind of line will form between them. In order for the baby to develop properly, when feeding, the baby must completely empty the mother's breast in order to receive the most nutritious late milk as well.

Imbalance of foremilk and hindmilk

A lot of controversy among modern doctors is caused by such a thing as an imbalance of fore and hind milk. This condition can occur in women with hypergalactia, when the glands produce more milk than the baby needs. This is possible if the child, having badly sucked one breast, receives a second one. At the same time, at the stage of feeding, the child does not receive the full high-calorie hindmilk. In addition, the baby may develop, since lactose-saturated foremilk too quickly enters the baby's intestines without having time to interact with lactase enzymes. Not fully split lactose can cause loose foamy stools, increased gas formation, and low weight gain in infants.

How is breast milk renewed?

The amount of milk depends on the effective removal of it from the mammary gland. It is updated constantly. The more actively the child suckles the breast, the more milk is produced and the sooner the gland is filled with a new portion of milk. The concentration of certain substances, including alcohol, antibiotics, allergens, also depends on their half-life, blood concentrations, and many other factors. The ability to be updated every minute is also due to the fact that the substances of the nutrient fluid are designed to satisfy the urgent needs of the baby. Therefore, breast milk is renewed continuously and most intensively immediately after feeding.

How to improve the quality of breast milk

Sometimes, observing a clear liquid secreted from the breast, a woman may mistakenly conclude that her breast milk is of poor quality. Many loving moms are trying to improve the quality of breast milk with the help of certain products and diets, supposedly improving the properties and fat content of milk. Scientists have proven that the composition of breast milk meets the needs of the child, even if the nursing mother does not receive certain nutrients. In this case, the stocks laid down during pregnancy are used, and malnutrition can lead to disturbances in the body of only the most nursing woman. Mom can only accept and correctly use the gift that the nature of her baby has bestowed.

To understand how to improve the quality of breast milk, you also need to know that many components of medicines, alcohol, nicatin enter the blood of a nursing woman, and, accordingly, into the baby's body when milk comes. Nicotine and alcohol cause toxic effects on the child. A young mother should avoid the use of excessive amounts of spices, extractives, garlic, horseradish, which can give her nutrient fluid an unpleasant taste.

Formulas for nursing mothers

Manufacturers of special powdered milk formulas for nursing mothers know how to improve the quality of breast milk. These supplements contain whole complexes of substances necessary for the development of the child. However, these funds are recommended rather for adjusting the nutrition of the woman herself and for replenishing her body with the necessary substances.

Some mixtures are indicated for women whose children are at risk of developing allergies. They use vegetable proteins ("Amalthea", "Madonna"). A certain food group for nursing is aimed at enhancing lactation. Such mixtures and specialized teas contain lactogenic additives - nettle, anise, cumin ("Lactamil", "Milky Way").

Sometimes an inexperienced mother is worried about questions: “Can breast milk not be suitable for a child?” It is worth noting that this formulation may be relevant only in some cases with lactase deficiency in the baby or in the presence of serious illnesses in the mother.

In custody

Thanks to this article, a young mother learned when colostrum should appear, why milk is prone to transformation, how quickly “white gold” changes, how breast milk is useful for a baby, how to improve its quality and what a woman should do if there is an imbalance in milk.

In conclusion, I would like to set up mommy for long-term breastfeeding. This process has been overgrown with myths and fears over the years. Therefore, it is very important to abandon the many outdated misconceptions. For the development of lactation, it is necessary to be convinced of the benefits of breastfeeding, to provide the baby with optimal nutrition. Perhaps the most important criterion is that no single most advanced formula can replace the close emotional connection and feeling of happiness and peace that breastfeeding gives mother and baby.

Reading time: 8 minutes

Mother's milk is a unique element of raising a child, which is perceived as a natural given, and therefore even experienced mothers rarely think about its features. However, knowing the composition of breast milk, mothers could correctly relate to the duration of feeding, the nature and intensity, which would surprisingly affect the health of entire generations of people. This information is necessary for future and current mothers.

What is breast milk made of

The breastfeeding system is a well-calibrated mechanism that fully provides the newborn with the necessary substances, protection, and gives him everything that is necessary for normal growth and development. This system is adapted to the needs of the child, and therefore the composition of milk is always different, even with daily feeding. The main components of mother's milk are water, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, macro- and microelements, each of which performs its important functions in the process of formation and protection of the baby's body.

Water

Breast milk consists of water - it contains 87% of it, which fully provides the baby with the necessary moisture, regardless of the temperature. Since mother's milk is both food and drink for the baby, he himself must regulate the intake of milk, "asking" the mother to feed if there is a need for food or water. Therefore, the child cannot be fed less often than he asks, because. in addition to a lack of nutrients, he may become dehydrated. If you feed on demand, you will not have to supplement the baby.

Squirrels

Proteins in breast milk make up the smallest part - only 1%. All this is due to the fact that the child's body needs proteins only in a small amount. For an infant, the norm is 1% of the total body weight, and over time - even less. Too much protein can be harmful and even dangerous. But the mother's body itself adjusts to the amount of this substance in milk that is necessary for the child, eventually changing its composition to less protein.

The following types of proteins are present in mother's milk:

Fats

Fats are an important component of breast milk, which is involved in the construction of the baby's nervous system. They saturate the body with biological energy and are responsible for a good mood. A woman's breast milk, along with goat or cow milk, has a fat content of 2 - 4.5%, is in perfect balance with carbohydrates, and is uniquely suited to the needs of her child.

The fat content of a woman's milk is not uniform: milk, accumulating before feeding, flows down to the nipple with its watery part, while the fats remain behind. This is how the concept of "forward" and "hind" milk appeared.

Foremilk - less fat, saturates the baby with moisture.
The back is fatter, reaches the nipples after 15 minutes of feeding and saturates the baby with nutrients. Therefore, in order for the baby to receive all the substances he needs, feeding must be long (last at the request of the baby).

Unsaturated and saturated milk are equally important because each is responsible for its own type of work: unsaturated - for the development of the internal organs of the child, saturated - for the construction of the nervous system. In order for milk to be well digested, the enzyme lipase is provided, which helps the baby break down fats.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates in breast milk contains 7%. Most of them are lactose: a specific carbohydrate, which is found only in mother's milk, contributes to the development of the child. Action spectrum:

brain development;
formation of an environment for the development of bifidobacteria;
promoting the absorption of calcium and iron.

To break down carbohydrates, mother's milk contains the enzyme lactase, which the baby can only get from hind milk. In order to avoid poor absorption of lactose, the child needs to be fed for a long time, more than 15 minutes with one breast, or at the request of the baby. In addition to lactose, breast milk contains galactose, fructose, oligosaccharides, which also play an important role in the development of the child.

Hormones

Mother's breast milk contains hormones necessary for the child for the normal development of the physical body, mental state - more than 20 types in total. It will not work to replace them with something else, because. Any hormone given artificially can bring down the processes of the baby's body that are properly regulated by nature. Therefore, breastfeeding is extremely important.

Hormones and other substances (trace elements and vitamins) account for only 1% of mother's milk, but their role is irreplaceable. All of them are aimed at organizing the proper development of the child's body, the formation of a healthy psycho-emotional state and regulatory function. Breast milk contains hormones:

oxytocin (the love hormone responsible for the psycho-emotional health of the child);
growth factor;
prolactin (development of the pituitary gland and reproductive function);
insulin (blood sugar regulator);
sex hormones;
thyroid hormones;
prostaglandins and others.

Vitamins, minerals and trace elements

In breast milk, in addition to other substances, contains the amount of vitamins, minerals, trace elements necessary for a particular child. These are iron, phosphorus, copper, manganese, cobalt, vitamins of groups A, B, C, D, minerals, salts. With a good nutrition of the mother, their ratio is ideal.

Most of these substances are found in foremilk and are inactive. But, accumulating in the baby's body, they move to the active phase as needed. Therefore, expressing foremilk is highly discouraged in order to avoid beriberi and other malfunctions of the child's body.

Together with hormones, these substances in mother's milk make up 1%, but this is enough for the baby, because. they are absorbed by 80%. What can not be said about vitamins in tablets, dry mixes and ordinary food. For example, iron in mother's milk is absorbed by a child by 70%, and contained in a dry mixture - only by 10%. Therefore, a high percentage of vitamins and other elements are added to the mixture, and this is harmful, because. increases the load on the body of the baby.

What is colostrum and what are its benefits

Colostrum is a type of breast milk that is secreted from the mother during the third trimester of pregnancy and a few days after childbirth. It is a yellow sticky liquid with a high concentration of substances necessary for the child, which are in the most digestible form. Colostrum is vital for the newborn as it it fully nourishes without burdening the intestines and other organs that the baby has not yet grown stronger.

Colostrum has the following properties:

It is a transitional form of nutrition - from intrauterine to mature lactation.
It consists of substances that are most similar in structure to the tissues of a newborn (sugar = lactose, proteins = blood serum proteins, fats are represented by oleic acid with a high content of phospholipids).
Contains the maximum amount of: proteins (4-5 times more than in ordinary milk), vitamin A and β-carotene (2-10 times more), ascorbic acid (2-3 times more), secretory immunoglobulin A, mineral salts.
It has a high calorie content: it changes from 150 to 70 kcal / 100 ml during the first 5 days of excretion from the breast.
Gives immune protection to the newborn, promotes the formation of local immunity.
Envelops the walls of the gastrointestinal tract, preparing for the transition to "mature" milk.
Facilitates the excretion of meconium (faeces of a newborn).
Removes the risk of metabolic stress that would result from processing large amounts of liquid.

The high concentration of essential substances allows the child to eat even 50-100 ml of colostrum per day.

Table - the chemical composition of breast milk

Component	Average values for mature breast milk
Energy (kJ)



Carbs (g)
Sodium (mg)

Calcium (mg)
Phosphorus (mg)
Iron (mcg)
Vitamin A (mcg)
Vitamin C (mcg)
Vitamin D (mcg)

What is the difference between the composition of breast milk up to 6 months and after

The composition of mother's milk changes as the baby matures. With growth, the baby's body is rebuilt and needs some substances more and others less. The mother's body adapts to the needs of the child. And the composition of milk varies depending on the needs of the baby.

The main difference in the composition of mother's milk after 6 months is a decrease in the amount of fats and proteins, an increase in lipids and carbohydrates. The energy value increases, which is what the development of the baby requires. The content of some vitamins, minerals and other substances also changes depending on the need in a given period of a child's life. For example, if the teeth climb, the calcium content increases.

Feeding a baby after 6 months is extremely important, because. milk continues to form immunity, provides nutrients, vitamins, enzymes and other useful substances by a third or more. However, from this time on, the child can be offered additional food (mixtures, regular products). What the baby will like is what he needs most.

Does the content change after a year of feeding

The composition of mother's milk changes throughout the feeding period. After a year, it increases its energy value, increases the content of vitamins and antibodies, because the child's body has become larger, which means that the needs have grown. In total, on average, after a year, mother's milk provides the child with useful substances in the following proportion: nutrients by 35%, vitamin C by 60%, vitamin A by 75%, vitamin B12 by 94%, calcium by 36%, folic acid derivatives - by 76% based on the daily rate.

Analysis of the constituents of mother's milk

Usually, the breastfeeding system is a well-defined mechanism, in which it is better not to interfere, but to let nature regulate everything on its own, but still there are cases that make you wonder if everything is in order with milk. In order to stop worrying, mothers can take their milk for analysis. This must be done exactly if:

the woman had mastitis;
in the first 2 months, the child has persistent diarrhea with dark green liquid feces and an admixture of blood with mucus.

What affects the composition of mother's milk, find out from this video:

When organizing feeding, you should always remember that nature provides for everything: it is worth breastfeeding a child as long as there is a need for it. Let your baby get enough of all the substances he needs that nature has prepared for him so that he can grow up to be a healthy, intelligent and psycho-emotionally balanced person.

It is probably difficult to find a person now who would doubt the value of breast milk. However, in conversations with pregnant women and even breastfeeding mothers, I was repeatedly convinced that their knowledge about this wonderful product sometimes consists of several well-known facts.

For example, many people know that human milk contains a sufficient amount of nutrients and some amount of antibodies. When you start asking questions, it turns out that few of them realize how truly unique its composition is. The lack of this knowledge sometimes misleads a woman and she may underestimate the importance and significance of the breastfeeding period for her baby. Let's try to fill this gap and figure out what is so unique in breast milk.

To begin with, mature breast milk contains hundreds of well-known components and differs in composition not only in different mothers, but even in one woman in different mammary glands. The composition of milk varies from feeding to feeding, and even during one feeding, not to mention the entire lactation period. All these changes are not accidental, but are directly related to the individual needs of the children who feed on them. For example, the milk produced by a woman who has given birth to a premature baby, during the first 2 weeks of lactation, approaches colostrum in its composition.

Women breastfeeding twins who have a pronounced preference for one breast sometimes notice that their mammary glands produce milk of different composition. As lactation subsides and the mammary glands involute, the milk produced in the last stages resembles colostrum in its high levels of immunoglobulins, which protect both the weaned baby and the mammary gland itself. It turns out that at each specific moment in time, the mammary gland produces milk of exactly the composition that is currently necessary and vital for a growing cub. In order to at least try to provide such a quick change in the composition of nutrition artificially, mom would have to buy not one, but several dozen types of milk formulas, and even a diagnostic laboratory with a powerful computer to boot!

At the same time, milk is an extremely complex liquid and all changes in its composition are subject to certain patterns. So, what does this life-giving elixir consist of?

Water, water, all around water

Most of breast milk is ordinary water, it contains about 87%. Such a large amount of water fully meets the fluid requirements for an infant. Moreover, mother needs to know that this water biologically active therefore, it is best absorbed by the child.

When the International Dairy League (a non-governmental organization that promotes breastfeeding) was just starting its work, an experiment that was amazing in its visibility was carried out. European children were taken to Africa, in 50 degree heat and lived there for a month with their mothers. Among them were artificial children, children fed on mother's milk and supplemented with water at the same time, and children who ate exclusively mother's milk. The group included a mobile laboratory and several children's doctors. Doctors examined the children and regularly took blood and urine samples from them. It turned out that even in this hot and dry climate, children fed exclusively on breast milk suffered the least from the heat. None of these children suffered from dehydration, unlike children from the other two groups. Moreover, the tests of infants were much better than those of children who, in addition to breasts, also received water. That is, liquid from breast milk is absorbed better than any other liquid and fully meets the baby's needs for water!

That is why no heat is an excuse for feeding a baby with water, except for diseases in which dehydration of the body is observed. With breast milk, the baby gets drunk perfectly and suffers from thirst!

milky sweetness

The next most important component of milk is carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates make up about 7% of the total composition of milk. Moreover, almost all of these percentages are lactose, milk sugar, although it also contains small amounts of galactose, fructose and other oligosaccharides. Lactose is a specific food in infancy, and human milk contains more of it than in the milk of other mammals.

The role of lactose in the growth and development of the child is very large. It promotes the absorption of calcium and iron. Due to lactose, substances necessary for the development of the central nervous system are formed. In addition, breast milk lactose stimulates the formation of intestinal colonies of Lactobacillus bifidus, a beneficial microflora that inhibits the growth of pathogenic bacteria.

Unlike the milk of other mammals, human milk contains not only the carbohydrate lactose itself, but also a special enzyme for its processing - lactase. True, this enzyme is located mainly in the back of milk, rich in fats, therefore only those babies who breastfeed in accordance with the natural scheme receive it. Namely: the child correctly captures the breast, receives it on demand and has the possibility of prolonged sucking during sleep. Prolonged suckling of the breast to obtain hindmilk also occurs when the baby is repeatedly attached to the same breast. Thus, in order to take full advantage of the invaluable carbohydrate lactose, a new mother must learn the rules of feeding.

We control fat content

Like any nutritional product, human milk contains a sufficient amount of fat. They make up 4%. This amount is quite enough to provide the children's body with additional energy, because the fats in milk are perfectly balanced. From 30 to 50% of the daily energy norm, the baby receives from this fat. The optimal combination of fats and carbohydrates provides the energy needs of a child in the first year of life by 100%, and in the second and third years of life by 50%.

In women's milk, fats are in the form of microscopic balls smaller in size than in cow's milk. This makes them easier to digest. The mechanisms of absorption of fats in an infant are still immature, therefore, breast milk, in addition to the fats themselves, also contains a special enzyme, lipase. Most mammals do not have these enzymes in their milk. Lipase helps the baby break down fat.

The ideal balance of fats in human milk is associated with an optimal ratio between saturated and long-chain unsaturated fatty acids. In breast milk There are more unsaturated fatty acids than saturated ones. Polyunsaturated fatty acids are essential for brain development. Of particular importance among them are linoleic and arachidonic. The content of these two fatty acids in women's milk is almost four times higher than in cow's milk; Prostaglandins, the synthesis of which depends on the presence of these two essential fatty acids, affect many physiological functions that activate digestion and promote the maturation of intestinal cells.

Fats are the most variable component of all milk constituents. The level of fat fluctuates not only during the day, but even during the same feeding. In some women, the concentration of fats in milk at the end of feeding is 4-5 times higher than at the beginning. This increase in fat content towards the end of feeding acts as a kind of satiety regulator. The last fatty droplets usually do not flow from the chest in a continuous stream. The baby receives them through prolonged sucking, often during sleep. Having received a signal that he has enough fat, the child usually finishes feeding himself. It turns out that the most high-calorie part of the milk comes to the child only at the end of feeding, so the time of any feeding should not be arbitrarily limited! Only unlimited feeding at the request of the child will provide him with enough fat, and therefore calories.

Better less is better

Well, where is the main building component for the growth and development of nervous tissue, what then remains on squirrels? It turns out that human milk contains much less protein than fat - about 1%. Mature human milk has the lowest protein content of any other mammal's milk. Moreover, its level gradually decreases as the child grows and develops. This is due to the fact that the needs of a newborn and a one-year-old child for protein differ by more than 3 times, therefore, as they grow older, the baby should receive less and less protein. Excessive intake of protein from food causes an increased burden on the kidneys, metabolic stress, increases the risk of obesity and diabetes. Therefore, nature has taken care that our milk contains exactly as much protein as the child needs, and this amount varies depending on his age.

The main protein in human milk is alpha lactalbumin, simultaneously acts both as a source of nutrition and as an important agent in the synthesis of lactose.

Some of the proteins are enzymes already familiar to us, such as lipase and lactase that break down the main ingredients of breast milk. In fact, only a man and a gorilla from mammals provide their cubs with both food and substrate at the same time, i.e. breast milk helps the baby digest itself!

Among other protein components, it is worth noting essential amino acids such as cystine, methionine and taurine. Taurine is essential for the binding of bile salts (and therefore fat absorption) and also serves as a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator in central nervous system development.

About 30% of all milk proteins are proteins that serve no nutritional purpose. They perform completely different functions - they form protective mechanisms that allow the baby to fight infections. First of all, these proteins include lactoferrin, which binds iron and prevents the growth of some of the harmful bacteria that feed on it. In addition, there are special anti-infective proteins that secretory immunoglobulin and lysozyme. Other immunoglobulins should also be attributed to protein molecules - antibodies many common infections that protect a child from disease until his immune system is able to produce its own antibodies. If an infection enters the mother's body, special antibodies soon appear in breast milk, protecting the child from this infection.

Thus, with any illness of the child, including during diarrhea, breast milk gives him additional protective factors that help to cope with the disease. That is why during the baby's malaise, breastfeeding should not be stopped. The action of breast milk protects against diseases and helps children to recover even in the second and third years of life.

And what is left?

Less than 1% remains, but it includes a lot of microelements, vitamins and mineral salts, as well as many bioactive substances. These are the same substances that affect the body, being in minimal quantities.

Some of them, no one will ever add to milk formulas because of the great danger of overdose. For example, human milk contains more than 15 types hormones. Some of them are in a concentration greater than in the blood of the mother, others are less. In any case, an artificially synthesized hormone is a medicine, so even the smallest dose of the hormone will not be put into the milk mixture.

Other bioactive substances are simply very difficult to synthesize, for example, numerous growth factors. According to the latest data, it is precisely because of hormones and growth factors that breast milk is able to control a child's metabolism to some extent, from the intricacies of cell division to his behavior.

cannot be obtained artificially living cells of mother's milk, some of which help the baby fight infections, and the other is unique information transmitted directly from this mother to this child.

The same substances that can be synthesized are found in breast milk in the most easily digestible form. For example, human milk contains enough gland. There is not very much of it in breast milk, but it is well absorbed from the intestines of the child - up to 70%, compared with 30% in cow's milk, and only 10% in breast milk substitutes. Therefore, breastfed babies do not develop iron deficiency anemia.

Everything a child needs vitamins and microelements it can be obtained from breast milk, and women's milk provides the child's needs for them not only in the first, but also in the second and third years of life. Therefore, a child who is breastfed does not need additional doses of vitamins.

Minerals in human milk are distributed in such a way that the child receives the required amount salt, calcium And phosphates. Breast milk calcium is absorbed more efficiently due to the optimal ratio of calcium to phosphorus (2: 1), which is not observed either in cow's milk or in artificial mixtures.

It turns out that each component of breast milk is unique in itself. It is either contained only in this type of milk, or its quantities are different, or its ratio with other components is very different. Some components of women's milk are presented in it in an unusual form, that is, they form complex bioactive structures, for example, the same water. And if you put all these components together, you get a truly priceless liquid! And most importantly, for this you do not need to go to the store, stand in line, pay money or write prescriptions. This miracle of nature can be produced by any woman, and for free!

Do you doubt, do you think breast milk is the lot of only a few lucky women, and the rest are doomed to the mixture for life? It is not true, with good psychological support and following a number of simple rules, 97% of women are able to breastfeed. Moreover, elderly women and even nulliparous women are capable of lactation, no matter how paradoxical it may look. If you don’t believe me, contact a lactation consultant and they will definitely help you!