3 Facts You Need to Know About Breastmilk Holly Myers, May 10, 2023May 31, 2023 Breastmilk is considered nature’s “perfect food”. It has just the right about of nutrients for your growing baby, it’s convenient, and it’s free. Currently, the recommendation is that mothers exclusively breastfeed their babies until 6 months of age. If you’re planning to breastfeed your baby, there is no doubt you will learn much about your individual milk production as well as the individual needs of your baby. Here are 3 facts about breastmilk you need to know about before you start breastfeeding. Simply so you can marvel at the magic of breastmilk! A little bit for educational purposes too. The nutrient profile of breastmilk changes as your baby grows Your breastmilk will undergo many changes just as your beautiful bundle of joy will. Your breastmilk will mature over your baby’s first month of life and will go through 3 different phases. Days 0-5: Colostrum Days 5-14: Transitional milk Day 14 and beyond: Mature milk Colostrum Your body begins making colostrum during pregnancy. This thick, yellowish liquid is what your infant will drink for the first 2-5 days. Colostrum is made in a low volume as newborns only drink about one half ounce during the first few days of life. Colostrum is high in protein and immune factors. It helps create a protective lining in your baby’s digestive tract and establishes a normal gut microbiome. Transitional milk From around day 5 until 2 weeks postpartum, your transitional milk will come in. This milk is thinner than colostrum and is blueish/white in color. Transitional milk contains more calories and is high in fat, lactose, and water-soluble vitamins. Your baby will drink about 1 ½ -2 ounces of transitional milk per breastfeeding session. Mature milk After about 2 weeks postpartum, your mature milk will come in. Mature milk is about 90% water which ensures your baby will stay hydrated. The remaining 10% includes carbs, protein, and fat which help your baby grow and help meet your baby’s energy needs. Mature milk also contains hormones, growth factors, and enzymes. Your baby will drink about 2 ounces of mature milk per breastfeeding session at the two week mark. Breastmilk helps establish a healthy immune system in baby Babies are born with an “immature” immune system and rely on breastmilk to provide them with antibodies to help develop a strong immune system to fight off illness. Studies show that breastmilk provides the following benefits: Decreased diarrhea disease Decreased respiratory infections Decreased risk developing asthma, diabetes and other inflammatory diseases There is also an increase in leukocytes (immune cells that help fight off infections) in breastmilk when both mom and/or baby have an infection. This is why it is recommended that you breastfeed your baby even if you are sick because you will pass antibodies to your baby. If your baby is sick, your breastmilk will respond with antibodies to help your baby fight off the infection quicker. Breastmilk has many alternative uses Mothers often use breastmilk for more than just nourishing their babies. Breastmilk can also be applied topically to the skin to heal a variety of ailments. Skin infections Cuts Cracked nipples Conjunctivitis Umbilical cord stump A common recommendation for breastfeeding mothers is to express breast milk on cracked nipples and allow the milk to air dry. Some mothers reported a decrease in nipple pain after using breastmilk, although a cream such as lanolin is considered more effective. Diaper rash can be a persistent issue for babies, but breastmilk has been shown to be as effective as 1% hydrocortisone cream in treating diaper rash. Just as effective and much cheaper (in fact, it’s free!) Although it is recommended for parents to keep the umbilical cord clean and dry, there is limited research that shows that applying breastmilk to the umbilical cord leads to a shorter cord separation time. References: Aghamohammadi, A., Zafari, M., & Moslemi, L. (2012). Comparing the effect of topical application of human milk and dry cord care on umbilical cord separation time in healthy newborn infants. Iranian Journal of Pediatrics, 22, 158-162. American Pregnancy Association. (n.d.). Breastfeeding overview. Retrieved from https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-overview/ Atyeo, C., & Alter, G. (2021). The multifaceted roles of breast milk antibodies. Cell, 184(6), 1486-1499. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2021.02.031 Hassiotou, F., et al. (2013). Maternal and infant infections stimulate a rapid leukocyte response in breastmilk. Clinical and Translational Immunology, 2(4), e3. Farahani, L. A., Ghobadzadeh, M., & Yousefi, P. (2013). Comparison of the effect of human milk and topical hydrocortisone 1% on diaper dermatitis. Pediatric Dermatology, 30, 725-729. doi:10.1111/pde.12118 Jozsa, F., & Thistle, J. (2023). Anatomy, Colostrum. In StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513256/ Pugh, L. C., Buchko, B. L., Bishop, B. A., Cochran, J. F., Smith, L. R., & Lerew, D. J. (1996). A comparison of topical agents to relieve nipple pain and enhance breastfeeding. Birth, 23, 88-93. doi:10.1111/j.1523-536X.1996.tb00835.x Women's Health