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Breast Feeding

natural baby care

Article: What is in breast milk that makes it so nutritious?

There is no doubt that the nutritional content of human breast milk is ideally suited to babies. It has evolved over tens of thousands of years and contains well over 300 known ingredients to ensure that every nutrient necessary for babies is present and in the right proportions and quantities. But it is not as straightforward as that - not only are these nutrients present in the right proportions and quantities, but those proportions change depending on the age of the baby.

The First Stage of Milk Production.

Immediately after the baby is born, the mother’s milk is rather thin-looking and contains very high concentrations of Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s) needed for the growth, brain development and bile-salt production of the new-born baby. This first milk is called 'colostrum' and it plays a vital role in establishing a healthy digestive system in the baby. Colostrum is only produced for the first few days and normally by the end of the first week mothers are producing transitional milk.

The Second Stage of Milk Production.

Transitional milk is still rich in EFA’s, but has less than are found in colostrum. Overall fat content is also slightly down, with corresponding increases in lactose and protein. This milk is generally produced for the first six months of the baby’s life, although this can be longer if the infant was born prematurely. This milk provides everything that the growing baby needs during the first six months of life - there is no need to supplement with anything else during this period.

The Third Stage of Milk Production.

The third stage of milk production is called mature milk and this is generally produced from six months onwards. It is during this stage that mothers should start to introduce other foods to start the process of weaning. Most authorities agree that infants should be breast-fed until at least the age of 12 months, and up to 24 months if possible. During this period, the range and frequency of other foods should be gradually increased so that the weaning process is carried out smoothly and without trauma. Each of these three stages ensures that the exact needs of the developing infant are met and that nutritional health is optimised.

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