5 Breast Milk Functions To Know Now

Ever wonder why breast milk is just the best darn stuff in the world for your baby? There's a whole bunch of reasons but here a 5 components and their functions to know today. Happy reading!

1. PROTEIN

Species specificity = human milk for human babies. Each mother makes the perfect blend of milk for her baby. Human babies are born needing lots of care. Even an infant’s internal body is immature and his kidneys and liver are still unable to process high protein food. Breast milk has low protein content however, the protein is easily utilized in the body. Breast milk is proportionally 60% whey and 40% casein.

2. LACTOSE

A baby’s brain will triple in weight from birth to age 2. Breast milk is high in lactose, a milk sugar, which is preferred brain food and important for brain development. Some mothers question if their baby might have lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance is a condition resulting from lactase deficiency after weaning. Babies who do have food allergies and other digestive concerns can receive guidance from a Registered Dietitian and/or IBCLC. Breast milk is protective for sensitive babies.

3. OLIGOSACCHARIDES

Oligosaccharides provide immune protection to your baby. There are over 130 different oligosaccharides present in breast milk. These oligosaccharides in breast milk will vary based on your baby’s age and length of breastfeeding.

4. FATS

Breast milk is a rich source of fats and includes all essential fatty acids. Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are important to develop the central nervous system and immune system. Fat concentration in breast milk is related to breast fullness. A full breast will have lower content of fat in the breast milk. A emptier breast milk have higher content of fat in the breast milk. So, baby may be getting less milk from a less full breast, but that milk is high calorie and perfect for baby.

5. VITAMIN D

Your doctor or pediatrician may have discussed vitamin D supplementation with you. Vitamin D is important for bone health and the immune system. Breast milk is low in vitamin D due to the prevalent vitamin D deficiency in the population. Vitamin D is found in very few foods. Yes, your body can synthesize vitamin D from sunlight, although when we apply sunscreen or avoid sunlight we do not get enough. It is recommended that either mother be supplemented with 6400 IU or infant be supplemented with 400 IU for an exclusively breast fed infant to receive adequate amounts of vitamin D. Any supplementation should be supervised by your medical provider.

On another note, today is IBCLC Day! I want to say thank you to each and every IBCLC around the world supporting mothers on their breastfeeding journeys and advocating for breastfeeding friendly communities. And a sincere thank you to Mary Lou for personally supporting me as I began my journey as a nursing mother. Go hug an IBCLC today!