Breast milk is viscous. Breast-feeding. What did mom eat

Young mothers try to learn everything about breast milk before giving birth, so that later they do not encounter potential problems and improve the quality of the product. This is a very true and correct approach. After all, it allows you to get rid of fears that can negatively affect the condition of a young mother and even lead to the fact that milk will not start to be produced or will quickly disappear.

In general, nature arranged everything in such a way that mothers do not even need to be especially involved in the product development process. Of course, there are a number of prohibitions for the lactation period, but, for the most part, the female body copes with everything on its own. And even if it turns out that the milk is not sweet, as it usually happens, but salty, there is a certain reason for this, and most likely this is exactly what the child's body needs at the moment.

When does milk appear and how does it change?

The first milk - colostrum - begins to be produced immediately after childbirth. It is a thick transparent or yellowish mass, neutral in taste, without a pronounced odor. In its composition, it differs significantly from the transitional or mature product, but it is this liquid that the baby should receive in the first minutes of his life. There are several reasons for this:

1. Despite the insignificance of the volume (about 30 ml per feeding), colostrum will accelerate the process of cleansing the intestines from meconium - the original feces. If this process is not stimulated, then the risk of physiological jaundice in an infant increases.
2. The passage of the fetus through the birth canal requires effort not only from the mother, but also from the baby. Due to the impressive energy costs in the first days, infants experience a slight decrease in body weight, the rejection of rather fatty and nutritious colostrum will make this process even more pronounced.
3. The very first breath of the baby leads to the entry of bacteria into his body, to the influence of which he has not yet developed immunity. Together with colostrum, the baby receives immune factors that will provide its initial protection.
4. It is in the first half hour that the innate instincts of children are the strongest, thanks to which the baby quickly finds and begins to suckle the breast, and the mother improves lactation. In addition, by soldering the baby with milk from the breast, the mother calms the little one, for whom the new environmental conditions become a shock.

From about day 5, the mother begins to produce transitional milk, which is notable not only for significant changes in the chemical composition (now it is not tasteless or salty, but sweetish), but also for the presence of a special complex. It acts as a means of preventing the formation and development of tumors. Already in the third week after birth, the milk finally becomes mature. Now its chemical composition will change only slightly, in accordance with age and individual features baby.

The composition of the nutritional product

Mature milk has a peculiarity - it consists of two parts. The foremilk is more watery and the baby is more likely to quench his thirst with it. All energetically valuable components are contained in the back, more viscous milk. This is why babies need to be fed on demand and for as long as they decide. If we take him off the breast earlier, he may not get the necessary components.

Milk contains about five hundred different components. Here are just the most basic of them, the volume of which practically does not change:

• Water. It makes up to 87% of the volume and completely covers the baby's need for liquid in the first months of his life. Only if the child, for some reason, has experienced an intense loss of fluid (fever, vomiting, diarrhea, an abundance of fatty foods on the mother's menu), should he be supplemented.
• Lactose. Milk sugar, which is one of the main sources of energy. It is thanks to him that milk tastes sweet. The component prevents the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms, promotes the absorption of trace elements, and has a beneficial effect on digestion. By the way, even if the milk is salty, this does not necessarily mean that some kind of failure has occurred in the body. It is better to visit a doctor and get his advice before doing anything.

Tip: For mothers who have given birth to twins, doctors recommend allocating one mammary gland for each baby. Despite the same developmental conditions, children will need an individual set of useful components. Numerous studies have shown that the female body will adapt to this and will develop its own product for each of the babies.

• Fats. They make up to 5% of the volume, and, for the most part, these are healthy, polyunsaturated fats. They are involved in the synthesis of immune cells, the development of the brain and nervous system. For the processing of such fats, bile is not needed, which begins to be produced in the right amount from about 4 months of life crumbs. Up to this point, breast milk itself supplies enzymes to the child's body that promote the breakdown of fats.
• Protein. Despite the fact that it is no more than 1% of the volume of the product, this is quite enough for the stable and active development of the crumbs. Amino acids stimulate the development of systems and organs, the formation of new cells. As a protein, the main difference between breast milk and goat or cow milk is. This product is highly digestible, unlike its animal counterparts, and does not overburden the digestive tract. That is why dairy products are recommended to be given to children only after a year.
• Hormones. Milk contains those substances that are not synthesized by the child's body, but are required to maintain his life.
• Microelements. There are not only a lot of them and in sufficient volume, they are balanced so that they are absorbed by the tissues as fully as possible and do not interfere with each other.
• living cells. Basically, these are immune factors that cannot be synthesized and introduced into the body of a newborn in a different way.
• growth factors. The most important components that take an active part in the processes of division, growth, cell development, metabolic processes. The composition of some of them has not even been fully deciphered yet, so it is not yet possible to synthesize them.

If breastfeeding is carried out in accordance with the wishes of pediatricians, i.e. until about the time the baby is 1.5 years old, and then the baby is gradually weaned, the milk will disappear on its own within 2-4 weeks. But sometimes this period is extended to several months, and such a development of events is not considered a pathology or failure.

Interesting facts about breast milk

In addition to the above information, there are many important facts about breast milk that will help answer some of the questions of new mothers:

• The most advanced adapted mixtures do not contain even 10% of the components present in breast milk.
• For 6-12 days after childbirth, there can be a lot of milk. There is no need to be afraid, the stabilization period will begin very soon, and everything will return to normal.
• With milk, the child receives antibodies formed in the mother's body after all the diseases she has suffered. You need to understand that it is not pathogens that pass to the baby, but protection from them.
• Milk temperature is the same as body temperature. At the same time, the product is able to maintain its original benefits during the day at a temperature of 15ºС, 10 hours at 20-22ºС. An increase in the number of bacteria is not observed.
• Babies who receive breast milk as a regular food have an acidic environment in the intestines with a minimum level of pathogenic bacteria. Artificers, on the other hand, are prone to the rapid growth of putrefactive microflora in the intestines.
• If the milk is salty, then most likely this indicates an increase in the level of sodium salts in the mother's body. This is usually due to stagnation of the product. With proper feeding and pumping, the situation will normalize within a week. Salted milk will become sweet again.
• If a mother consumes vegetables with a high content of carotene in large volumes (pumpkin, carrots, sweet potatoes), then her milk may turn yellowish. And if a woman's menu mainly consists of green vegetables or seaweed- in greenish. The pinkish color of the milk is given by appropriate food colorings and bright fruit juices.
• Only three components influence the attitude of the baby to milk - alcohol, cigarettes and garlic. All of them can provoke the refusal of the peanut from the chest.
• Women spend about 600 kcal per day on the production of breast milk.

Discharge from the chest to varying degrees may persist for three years after childbirth. It does not require any treatment, you just need to monitor personal hygiene.

The most common fears of young mothers

There are several points about the production of breast milk that are alarming and even scary for expectant mothers. Not knowing the answers to elementary questions, they begin to panic, which negatively affects the development of the product:

1. Many worry that a small breast size will lead to the fact that the baby will starve. In fact, even women with a zero bust size are able to provide their baby with everything they need. The only thing you need to pay attention to is the growth of the mammary glands during pregnancy. If they are not swollen at all, this is really a reason to contact a specialist.
2. Feeding problems due to flat nipples are also being addressed today. To do this, you just need to use special pads or develop nipples with a breast pump. In addition, there are special simulators for developing flat nipples during pregnancy.

It happens that a woman simply does not believe that her body will be able to produce milk. If such fears are present, then you should not delay going to a specialized specialist or psychologist. Timely and detailed consultation will prevent the negative impact of bad thoughts on the fetus and the pregnancy process.

Breast milk is a unique baby food product. Today, not a single analogue has yet been invented that fully corresponds to it, because its composition was approved by nature itself. Only this food satisfies the needs of infants by 100%. The composition of the natural product includes up to 500 substances necessary for the baby, many of them cannot be created artificially. The mother's body begins to work on the creation of a food product even before the arrival of a new person in this world.

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The appearance of milk in the mammary glands of a woman is due to the hormone prolactin, which is responsible for its secretion. The basis of breast milk is lymph and blood, where nutrients, modified during digestion, enter from the body.

Composition of breast milk

Each woman's milk is unique, like herself, but the set of components of this product is the same for all nursing mothers. Composition of breast milk:

• biologically active water (88%) - the main component, perfectly absorbed by the baby. If the baby is fully breastfed, then it is not necessary to give him additional water;
• Carbohydrates (7%) presented in the form of lactose (milk sugar), which accelerates the development of the brain and nervous system, promotes the full absorption of iron and calcium and the bifidum factor with an antifungal and antibacterial effect that normalizes bowel function;
• Fats (4%) - the source of the baby's strength: thanks to them, immunity is strengthened and a full-fledged central nervous system is formed. Fats contain cholesterol (for the production of vitamin D), bile and major hormones. The balance of fats and carbohydrates in mother's milk ideal for a growing baby;
• Squirrels (1%) - the basis of the growth of the baby, rapidly gaining weight. They contain whey protein, taurine (for the development of the central nervous system and the brain), lactoferrin (a source of iron), nucleotides (building material for DNA), lactase (for the breakdown of lactose), lipase (for the complete absorption of fats);
• Remaining Components (0,2%) - iron, vitamins, minerals, 20 types of hormones (growth factors), antibodies, leukocytes (protection immune system).

The quality of breast milk in a nursing mother is not constant, its composition can change under the influence of many factors:

1. The time of day is thicker during the day than at night.
2. Weather - in the heat the milk is liquid, in the cold it thickens.
3. Mom's health - with weakened immunity, taking medications, the composition of the product is different.
4. The activity of the baby - at first the milk is liquid (instead of water), with intensive sucking it thickens and becomes fat.

A mother who is breastfeeding twins may have different milk formulas, because it must be adapted to the needs of each baby. The volume and quality of milk largely depends on the health of the nursing mother, good nutrition, sleep and rest, medication, bad habits (nicotine, alcohol).

It is important to know: the more often you put the baby to the breast, the more invaluable product it produces. It will be exactly as much as the baby needs, so you need to feed him on demand! Read more about how to feed — .

Types of milk by age

• Colostrum - a thick, sticky, yellowish liquid is produced in small quantities in the first 4 days. Its composition is close to the blood serum of an infant - a significant amount of proteins, leukocytes, vitamins, immunoglobulin, salts. Contributes to the rapid adaptation of the newborn to a new way of eating. Therefore, it is so important to put the baby to the breast in the first hours after childbirth. If the baby was born prematurely, mother's milk for 2 weeks is close in composition to colostrum, since it is precisely such food that the baby needs during this period. On this topic: ;
• transitional milk produced in the first 2-3 weeks. In composition, it is more nutritious and less protein, adapted to a growing organism and new products;
• mature milk appears from the third week. It is more oily and watery. Protein is produced less and less with age, in the composition of mature milk - mainly fatty acids, which are responsible for the normal functioning of the brain. Normally, a woman produces mature breast milk up to 1.5 liters per day. Distinguish between anterior and hind milk:
  • Front - bluish and liquid - is released in the first minutes of feeding, it contains carbohydrates, salts and water, serves to quench thirst.
  • rear- yellowish and thick - a complete baby food.

The benefits of breast milk

Breast milk is unique not only in its composition, but also in its properties. For a baby, nutrition from the mother's breast is active mental development, normal digestion, immunity strengthening, prevention of pneumonia, diabetes, obesity, allergies, atherosclerosis, diarrhea and many other dangerous diseases.

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Mother's milk is an excellent antidepressant for the nurse herself. Here we are not talking about a food product, but about the benefits of the processes of its formation and feeding, which develop the maternal instinct and tender feelings for the child.

According to Swedish scientists, alpha-lactalbumin in breast milk can successfully fight 40 types of cancer.

Breast-feeding can increase the response of the immune system during vaccinations.

Milk forms the baby's defenses, protecting against allergies and infections. The presence of stem cells in it provides regeneration and protection, as a source of antibodies, resistant even to diseases that the baby could get from the mother.

The antibacterial properties of milk can be used to treat, instill eye drops for conjunctivitis, or heal cracked nipples in a nursing mother.

For a baby, breast milk is not just food, the very ritual of communication with his mother is important for him: the opportunity to calm down, get rid of ailments, fears, and fall asleep sweetly.

There are also economic benefits to breastfeeding: mother's milk is always usable, it doesn't have to be cooked, and it doesn't have an expiration date. Priceless milk is free, for the family budget of a young family, savings on mixtures are significant.

NUK Consultant Dietitian Petra Frikke: Why is mother's milk the best food for my baby in the first months of life?

Perfect color and taste

Many new mothers are concerned about the color and taste of their milk. The color, as already mentioned, depends on the fat content and feeding time: the front (liquid) is bluish, the back (thick and fat) is white or yellow.

The taste of milk will change depending on the mother's diet. It is especially affected by salty, spicy, smoked foods, the use of alcohol, cigarettes, drugs. A certain taste appears depending on the emotional and physical condition nursing woman.

According to the observations of scientists, babies who are breastfed from the first days of life grow strong, sociable, kind. As they get older, they develop resilience. From the first days expectant mother it is necessary to tune in to the fact that she must certainly breastfeed her child. Then the baby will always be full and healthy, and the mother will be calm and happy.

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Breast milk is an indispensable product for a newborn baby. It contains a large number of nutrients that are formed during digestion. The appearance of milk is due to the hormone prolactin. Preparation of the body for its production begins from the very first day of conception.

The milk of a nursing woman has a slightly sweet taste. Sometimes you can see that it is salty. The composition of breast milk includes the following useful components.

During feeding, the child receives milk of different composition. First he drinks the front contents, and then the back.

The table clearly shows how useful and rich in various nutrients breast milk is.

The composition and properties of this product do not always remain constant. Many factors influence them.

• During the daytime, the milk is thicker than at night.
• In hot weather, it thins out, and in cold weather it becomes thick.
• Weakening of the mother's immunity, taking medications, products with a strong, pronounced odor affect the composition, color and taste of the product.
• From the strength and perseverance with which the baby sucks the breast, its consistency depends. With strong, intense sucking, the milk becomes thick and fatty.

It is important for a woman during breastfeeding to keep healthy lifestyle life. You can only eat high-quality and hypoallergenic food. It is worth giving up bad habits (alcohol, nicotine). Do not eat spicy, salty, too sweet.

It is useful to feed the child not by the clock, but on demand. This helps to improve lactation and the appearance useful substances. How much does a child need in the first days after birth?

Initially, about 40 milligrams will be enough, by the month the amount of milk will increase to 100 milligrams. The baby usually decides how much milk he needs.

Features of the production of breast milk

To answer the question of how breast milk is formed, one should know the structure of the mammary gland and the physiological processes of lactation.

The mammary gland consists of cavities, between which there are narrow ducts. Near the nipple, they expand and turn into lactiferous sinuses. On the other base of the ducts there are cells that are responsible for the production of milk.

Several cells grouped together form an alveolus. There are several million similar alveoli in the mammary gland.

Prolactin is responsible for milk production in the alveoli. It enters the blood of a woman after the birth of a child. If for some reason breastfeeding is delayed, don't worry. Prolactin in large quantities remains even after a month. During sucking, the muscles contract and fluid is released from the cells.

The hormone oxytocin is responsible for the functioning of the muscle fibers that carry milk through the ducts of the mammary glands.

It expands the lactiferous sinuses so that it can be freely released during sucking. The work of oxytocin can be felt due to the appearance of a feeling of fullness in the chest.

It is important to know how much mature milk should be produced per day. Its amount should reach 1.5 liters. Mature milk is divided into foremilk and hindmilk. Each of them has characteristic properties.

The foremilk is bluish in color and is runny. Appears at the beginning of breast sucking. It is rich in carbohydrates, salts and water. The anterior content helps replenish fluid loss and quench thirst.

The hindmilk is yellow and thick. This is a complete food for babies. The formation of the posterior contents is improved due to the frequent attachment of the baby to the breast, during night feeding and with prolonged and frequent attachment to the same breast. Back milk improves the intestinal microflora.

In order for the baby to evenly receive foremilk and hindmilk, you can give a different breast through each feeding. It happens that the baby refuses to suck out the hind milk, as it takes energy. The woman hurriedly offers another breast. As a result, the baby receives only foremilk. But foremilk cannot satisfy hunger.

With the age of the child, the composition of breast milk also changes. It adapts to the needs of a growing organism, which needs some vitamins in larger quantities, others in smaller quantities.

When a baby is 6 months old, the need for fats and proteins decreases. Large amounts of lipids and carbohydrates are produced. During the growth of teeth, the amount of calcium increases. It is useful to continue feeding after a year.

It is a great source of vitamins and antibodies that protect against infections. At this stage, the milk is very thick and yellow.

Characteristics of milk

Many factors affect how breast milk looks. The main characteristics that define it appearance, are:

• color (yellow, white);
• taste (salty, sweet);
• consistency (thick, liquid).

The color of the milk is affected by its consistency and the time of day at which the feeding takes place. Liquid milk has a bluish color. Thick - yellow or white.

The color of the liquid depends on the food. For example, the orange color of milk may be from carrots or pumpkins. Greenish milk may indicate the presence of spinach, broccoli in the diet. Sometimes it can be seen pink color. This indicates the ingress of blood (cracks in the nipples, rupture of blood vessels). In any case, you can drink it.

The taste of milk depends on the products that the woman consumed. It can be salty or sweet. Sometimes children may refuse to drink such milk. Emotional condition Mom also determines the taste and color of breast milk.

Salty milk becomes so because of the large amount of mineral salts. This phenomenon is related to the needs of the baby. As soon as his body gets enough of them, salted milk will lose this property.

Breast milk is constantly renewed. For example, from the age of four months, the amount of calcium increases. This is due to the fact that the baby begins to learn to sit down, get up. During this period, the first teeth appear. If the child has pain, then an analgesic component appears in the composition of the milk. In the case when the mother has a viral infection, antibodies increase in the milk, and it can be drunk. The amount of lysozyme increases when the child himself is ill.

Milk is updated almost every minute. This is very convenient, since the condition of the baby can also change very often.

Useful characteristics of breast milk

Useful properties that are contained in a woman's milk are necessary for the full growth and development of the baby.

Breast milk is a source of all the essential nutrients necessary for the development of the brain, for the normal functioning of the digestive organs. It strengthens the immune system of the child and is able to protect him from infectious diseases.

This is an excellent prophylactic against diseases such as allergies, pneumonia, diarrhea, atherosclerosis.

Often the question arises whether a woman can drink her milk. It will not bring harm, but still you should not drink it. Some women do not produce enzymes that can break down the complex composition of breast milk. If you drink your own milk, you may experience signs of indigestion (nausea, heartburn, abdominal pain, impaired stools).

Dairy products, which we are used to buying in the store, undergo complex fermentation processing. As a result, complex proteins break down and are easily digested.

It is very important to establish lactation from the first days. Mother's milk cannot replace any other product. It improves the functioning of all organs, has a beneficial effect on the emotional sphere of not only the baby, but also the mother.

Lactostasis is a very common phenomenon among lactating women, which is based on the stagnation of breast milk. With lactostasis, there is a decrease in the rate of advancement of breast milk in the ducts of the mammary glands. If this condition progresses rapidly, then mastitis and mastopathy will become its result.

Attentive attitude to your health during breastfeeding and timely action will allow the young mother to keep women Health for many years.

Causes of stagnation of breast milk

Some lactating women experience this problem once during the entire feeding period, and in some lactostasis occurs with a frequency of 1 time per month. Various reasons can influence this. These reasons include:

• Wearing tight underwear. A too tight bra can compress the ducts of the mammary glands, resulting in the formation of stagnation of breast milk. Many women do not take off their bra before going to bed, although this should not be done.
• Influence of stressful situations. Regular exposure to stress is a common cause of spasm of the ducts of the mammary gland and stagnation of breast milk.
• Rare change of position when feeding the baby. Some women prefer to put the baby to the breast in the same position. This leads to compression of individual lobes of the mammary gland.
• Increasing the viscosity of breast milk. This problem usually occurs with the use of certain foods. These foods include peanuts and walnuts. A potential reason for the increase in milk viscosity is insufficient fluid intake.
• Sudden change in climate or weather conditions. The female body is very sensitive to changes. atmospheric pressure. The peak of negotiability with lactostasis is the off-season period.
• Frequent pumping. Constant pumping can cause a significant rush of breast milk. baby is not always able to cover such a volume of food, and therefore the excess milk begins to stagnate. The frequency and volume of pumping is recommended to be agreed with a breastfeeding specialist.

Other reasons include:

• Traumatic injuries of the mammary glands;
• Feeding the child, according to the hourly schedule;
• Violation of the technique of attachment to the chest;
• Regular sleep in the “on the stomach” position;
• Wearing tight clothing;
• Hypothermia or overheating of the mammary glands.

Symptoms of stagnant breast milk

A nursing woman can recognize congestion in the mammary glands by the characteristic symptoms:

• pressing or It's a dull pain in the area of ​​blockage of the ducts of the mammary gland;
• In one of the areas of the mammary gland, a seal is palpated;
• Redness of the skin in the area of ​​congestion;
• An increase in body temperature to 37.3-37.6 degrees. If the body temperature has risen to 38-39 degrees, then this may indicate the development of mastitis. In this case, the woman is recommended to immediately contact a medical specialist.

Treatment

Before proceeding to treatment, it is important to familiarize yourself with the list of prohibited actions. In the fight against lactostasis, it is strictly prohibited:

• limit fluid intake;
• stop feeding the baby from the congestive mammary gland;
• use hot compresses and heating to treat lactostasis.

At the slightest sign of deterioration, a nursing woman should consult a gynecologist or mammologist, who can rule out an infectious and inflammatory process in the mammary glands.

Pumping Rules

The best assistant in the prevention and treatment of lactostasis is a child. Attach the baby to the breast should be on demand, and not by the hour. If a nursing woman experiences severe discomfort and pain when feeding a child, then it is recommended that she resort to self-expression of breast milk.

The self-pumping plan looks like this:

1. At the first stage, a nursing mother should improve blood circulation and expand the ducts of the mammary glands. This is achieved through thermal action. A woman can take a warm shower or bath, as well as use a warm compress.
2. Next, the breast must be lubricated with pharmaceutical (peach, olive) or cosmetic oil and with gentle movements begin to knead the area of ​​​​stagnation of breast milk. It is necessary to massage with two hands.
3. Smooth movements should go to pumping. The volume of pumped milk for each woman is individual. In this case, you need to focus on your own feelings. Pumping should be stopped when pain and discomfort cease to bother.
4. After completing the procedure, it is recommended to apply a cool compress to the area of ​​​​the mammary glands to relieve tissue swelling. Keep the compress should be no more than 8 minutes.

Local treatment

Compresses and ointments can be used to relieve swelling and improve the outflow of breast milk. Painkillers and decongestant compresses can be performed according to the following recipes:

• 150 g of bee honey should be mixed with 1 tbsp. wheat flour. From the resulting mixture, a cake is formed, which is superimposed on the stagnation area. A cling film and cotton fabric are applied on top of the compress. The procedure is performed before bedtime.
• 150 g of cottage cheese with a low percentage of fat must be distributed on a gauze napkin and applied to the mammary gland. Keep the compress for 30 minutes.
• 1 cabbage leaf of medium size must be put in the refrigerator for 30 minutes, then beat off until juice appears and apply to the mammary gland. Cotton fabric is applied over the cabbage leaf. It is recommended to keep the compress for no more than 40 minutes.

As a means for external use, you can use Malavit solution, Arnica ointment and Traumeel cream. Each remedy has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous effect. It is strictly forbidden to use warming ointments, as well as products based on camphor and ethyl alcohol. The use of camphor can reduce lactation up to its complete cessation.

Prevention of stagnation of breast milk

The best way to prevent lactostasis is to normalize breastfeeding. To prevent congestion in the mammary glands, it is important to adhere to the following rules:

• During breastfeeding, it is recommended to wear special underwear that does not squeeze the mammary glands. Underwired bras are strictly prohibited. Underwear should be selected according to the size of the chest.
• It is recommended to constantly change positions when feeding a child. Consult a lactation specialist for advice on this matter.
• A woman must strictly follow dietary recommendations. It is not recommended to eat foods that increase the density of breast milk. The amount of fluid you drink should be at least 2 liters per day.
• A nursing woman should not deny herself rest. A young mother is useful for daytime sleep and periodic rest for 20-30 minutes. Overwork during lactation can play against the mother and child.

If a woman feels a deterioration in her condition, if her body temperature does not decrease for several days, then we can talk about development. In this case, you can not practice self-treatment, but it is better to entrust your health to medical specialists.

Also, there is not a single child who would need milk the same as another baby. Milk is different! And yet, its components, its components, are practically the same. So what is so useful in this very mother's milk? Why do all doctors, scientists, etc., unanimously repeat the need for breastfeeding? For those mothers who still do not know or doubt, as well as for those who know, but want to know even more, once again "Kangaroo" talks about the benefits of breast milk. We will look at the main components of this ancient product nutrition and see how each one affects your child.

Fats

Of all the constituents of breast milk, these are the most variable ingredients. The fat content in milk changes not only according to the growth of the crumbs, but even in the process of one feeding. At the beginning of feeding, milk is poorer in fats. Gradually, the amount of fat increases until, finally, the baby gets to the very "cream", - the portion containing the largest amount of fat. It is thanks to this part of the milk that the baby is saturated and the happy one stops sucking. If the baby just wants to drink, then he will suck for several minutes and will be completely satisfied, and if the child wants a normal, full meal, he will suck for a long time and intensively.

Fats and the brain

Incidentally, fat is actively involved in brain development. Special fats, the so-called essential fatty acids, are part of the vital components of myelin - the sheaths of nerve fibers that contribute to the faster passage of impulses. The role of these fatty acids is so great that if they are not enough in the mother's diet, they begin to be produced by the mammary glands and enter the milk themselves.

Cholesterol

Cholesterol is the next most important component of the fat family. And don't be afraid. After all, what is harmful to an adult is not always harmful to a baby. Like other fats, cholesterol contributes to the formation of the brain. Like other fats, cholesterol is involved in the production of key hormones, vitamin D, and bile.

Many or few?

After 1-2 months, you will intuitively know that the baby is getting enough milk. It will get harder. However, in the first couple of weeks, this is quite difficult to determine. There are some signs by which you can judge that the baby is getting enough milk.

1. A baby who is getting enough milk will usually need to change 6-8 wet diapers a day after the first 3 days of life. This suggests that the child is not in danger of dehydration.
2. Changes in the stool can also tell you how much milk your baby is getting. In the first week, the stool normally changes from viscous black to green and brown. When you have fat milk, the stool will turn yellow. If your baby's stool has become grainy, like yellow mustard, your baby is getting enough of the higher-calorie, fat-rich component of milk. In the first two months, a baby who receives the right amount of high-fat milk usually has at least 2-3 stools a day, and he has feces yellow color, granular texture. Because breast milk is laxative, some babies may have stools during or after each feed.
3. If you feel breast fullness before feeding, less fullness after, and milk flowing during breaks, these are all signs of sufficient milk production. After a few months, the milk will stop flowing, even if there is a lot of it.
4. How the baby sucks and how satisfied he looks is also an indicator of the amount of milk he sucks. If the baby sucks vigorously and you hear how he swallows milk, feel it in your chest and see how he falls asleep after feeding, then your little one is getting enough milk.
5. Weight gain is another indicator of adequate nutrition. After an initial weight loss during the first week (usually 5-8% of the initial weight, or about 170-280 g), adequately fed children gain an average of 115-120 g per week during the first weeks, t .e. 450-900 g per month for the first 6 months and approximately 450 g per month between six months and a year. In the first six months, the baby grows at about 2.5 cm per month. The weight and height of the baby to some extent depend on his physique.

Squirrels

This is the basis for the growth of the body. Milk contains two main proteins: whey protein and casein. The first is very easily absorbed by the human intestine. The second is involved in the curdling of milk, so it is somewhat more difficult to digest by the intestines. Breast milk contains mostly whey protein, while cow's milk and some formulas contain mostly casein. Therefore, it is natural that the breast is more suitable for the intestines of a little man. He absorbs breast milk proteins better, digests them quickly and does not display them as unsuitable food for himself.

In addition to whey protein, breast milk also contains such as: taurine (a protein that improves the development of the brain and nervous system) and lactoferrin. Last transports required amount iron from milk - into the blood of the child. And yet, this special protein controls the content of bacteria in the intestines of the child. There are always good and bad bacteria in the lower intestine. Beneficial bacteria make their living in the gut different ways such as producing vitamins. Bad bacteria, if left unchecked, can multiply enough to cause diarrhea. In addition to suppressing harmful bacteria, lactoferrin prevents the development different kind fungi that produce toxins.

Vitamins, mineral salts and iron

These substances are unique in their high biological value. But remember that what makes food good is not big number the nutrients it contains, and high percent their absorption by the intestines with subsequent transition into the blood. Vitamins, mineral salts and iron of breast milk are of high biological value. Most of of these highly effective substances from your milk passes into the baby's tissues. This is what helps the little one to grow well and develop properly.

Powerful protection

By the way, breast milk also protects the baby from all kinds of diseases. So, at first, feeding him exclusively with breast milk, you kill two birds with one stone. Firstly, provide the little one with hearty food, and secondly, protect it. What is there in milk that helps a small body cope with infections.

Leukocytes

Every drop of your milk contains millions of tiny white blood cells, called white blood cells, that circulate in your gut and destroy harmful bacteria. In ancient times they were also called white blood. There are especially many leukocytes in the intestines in the first weeks of life, when the child's defense system is still weak. As the immune system improves, the concentration of leukocytes in milk gradually decreases, but they are still present for at least 6 months after birth. In addition to destroying infection, these precious cells, like blood, store enzymes that are growth factors and proteins that fight infection.

Immunoglobulins

In addition to white blood cells, breast milk also contains immunoglobulins - proteins that destroy the infection. They circulate throughout the body and destroy pathogens. In the first 6 months, the baby's immune system is still immature, with few protective antibodies. Shortly after birth, some antibodies are produced in the baby's body on its own. But, they are not enough for the child to be fully protected up to 1 year.

To protect the child from infectious agents, the mother compensates for the deficiency of his immune system in many ways. One of them is the transfer of antibodies to the child through the placenta. But these immunoglobulins are used up by 9 months. As the number of antibodies in your blood decreases, the amount of immunoglobulins in your milk increases. It completes the work that the blood used to do, protecting the child until its defense system is fully formed, a process that is completed by the end of the first year.

Benefits of Breastfeeding for Moms

1. Breastfeeding helps maintain a good figure Sucking stimulates the production of the hormone oxytocin, which causes uterine contractions, returning it to a near-previous state. The mother forms the child, the child returns to the mother her figure. Breastfeeding does not spoil the shape of the breast. This pregnancy changes her shape.
2. Breastfeeding promotes relaxation for both mother and baby. Watch a breastfeeding mother. Notice how soft it becomes as the baby begins to fall asleep peacefully, as if he had received sleeping pills. Your milk contains a protein that induces sleep, which, together with the satiety factor already described, puts him into a peaceful slumber. The hormones released as a result of suckling soothe the mother. This natural pacification is especially useful for children (and mothers) who have difficulty falling asleep. Here is a great example of giving back when we follow the natural course of things.
3. Breastfeeding helps keep you healthy. Breastfeeding women are less likely to have breast cancer, which is especially important if the family has a predisposition to this disease. And the last "for" - mercantile. The fact is that breastfed babies are generally healthier, which means lower health care costs. So we wish you to breastfeed your baby longer. The baby will be healthier and less money will be needed.

Aliya Bisembayeva
Magazine "Kangaroo" No. 29