This magic potion made by mothers is a living fluid that changes depending on the needs of your baby – it can seal your newborn’s gut against potentially harmful bacteria, viruses and allergens; it can boost your growing baby’s immunity by producing antibodies to bugs your baby is exposed to; and it can change in composition depending on whether your baby is hungry, thirsty, or going through a growth spurt.
Here are 6 magical ways your breast milk changes to meet your baby’s needs:
1) Breast milk changes as your baby grows
The composition of breast milk and nutrients, including macronutrients, and immune factor concentrations change according to the age and development of your baby, providing the perfect food for your baby as he grows from birth through starting family foods and becoming mobile to weaning.
For instance, studies show that the milk of mothers who have premature babies contained more calories, a greater fat concentration, more protein, sodium and secretory IgA (sIgA) than the milk of newborn term mothers.
Often referred to as baby’s first immunisation, colostrum, the sticky yellowish first ‘milk’ will maintain your newborn’s blood sugar and kick start important immunologic responses in your baby’s gut, influencing the development of normal gut flora, and preventing the growth of harmful bacteria. It also has a laxative effect that helps your newborn to pass meconium, that first black, tarry bowel motion. This reduces the reabsorption of bilirubin, reducing the risks of jaundice.
For the next day or two as your milk making hormones are triggered by the expulsion of your placenta, and a drop in progesterone (one of your pregnancy hormones) your milk will ‘come in’. It will still be a yellowish colour and is now called ‘transitional milk’ – as it ‘transitions’ from colostrum to mature milk somewhere between 3 and 5 days after birth, although this can vary.
Although your mature breast milk no longer looks ‘creamy’ and can even appear ‘watery’, however long you breastfeed, your milk will not ‘lose it’s goodness’ – some immune factors actually become more concentrated during the second year of life, right when your baby becomes mobile enough to play with other children and is exposed to a greater array of bugs!
2) Breast milk changes during a feed
The fat content of your breast milk changes throughout a feed and your baby can regulate this by his sucking – as long as you allow your baby to feed as long and as often as he needs. When your baby is thirsty and begins to suck he will firstly get the moreå ‘watery’ foremilk to quench his thirst, as the feed goes on, he will stimulate your ‘letdown reflex. As your milk ‘lets down’ this reflex will be squeezing the higher fat milk or ‘hind milk’ down to your baby to meet his energy needs.
This doesn’t mean there are two types of milk: consider how, when you have a cold tap running and you turn on the hot tap, the water gradually mixes from cool to warm. This is a similar process as the higher fat milk is made available to your baby throughout the feed. This means that your baby can control the kind of milk he needs at each feed through the kind of sucking he uses, as well as how long he feeds.
3) Breast milk changes at night-time
Consider, your day and night milk have different components: studies by researchers in Spain have found higher levels of neucleotides (proteins) that stimulate GABA, a sleep inducing neurotransmitter and melatonin. Evening breast milk is also rich in tryptophan, a sleep inducing amino acid that is a precursor to serotonin as well as amino acids that promote serotonin synthesis. Seratonin is a vital hormone for brain function and development that makes the brain work better, keeps one in a good mood and helps with sleep cycles.
Recent studies conclude that ingestion of tryptophan in infancy leads to more serotonin development, so as long as your baby needs night feeds, be reassured, you are supporting his potential for life long well-being.
4) Breast milk changes according to your diet
Although the nutrient stores you have laid down during pregnancy will mean that your milk is nutritious and balanced for all of your baby’s needs, there is evidence that some nutrients will be influenced by your own diet. For instance, the proportion of different fatty acids, some vitamins and elements such as selenium and iodine vary according to levels in your own diet.
Further research has linked ratios of fatty acids in mother’s milk and her baby’s tendency to develop certain allergies. Other studies report that levels of omega three fatty acids in mothers’ diets are not only linked with healthy neural development and sleep patterns in babies as well as boosting immunity strengthening properties of breast milk.
5) The flavour of breast milk changes
It is thought that exclusive breastfeeding could make your baby a less fussy eater when he starts eating family foods because the flavours of foods you eat will influence the taste of your breast milk, familiarising your baby with these flavours.
Studies show that babies love the taste of vanilla, garlic and cinnamon flavoured breast milk (when mothers eat foods with these flavours) so may empty your breasts more effectively, enhancing milk production.
6) Kissing your baby will change your breast milk
That irresistible urge to plant kisses all over your baby will also help to boost her immune system: when you kiss your baby, you are sampling the pathogens on her skin which are then transferred to your lymphatic system where you will produce antibodies to any bugs. These antibodies will then pass through your breast milk to your baby and boost her immune system.
This system works the same way whenever your baby is exposed to a bug, whether you have been exposed or your child has played with another child’s toy or been touched by a doting family member and come in contact with viruses or bacteria: the transfer of your baby’s saliva to your breasts will signal your immune system to make antibodies which are then transferred to your baby in your breast milk, protecting her against potential illness.
Pinky McKay, our newest Ambassador, is an International board certified lactation consultant, parenting expert and best-selling author. Her wisdom and experience stems from being a mother of five and grandmother of three. Pinky’s wealth of knowledge, experience and loveable nature makes her one of the most respectable parenting experts.
If you found our breast milk changes articles useful, we also cover a range of topics important to parents on our Parenting Community:
For tips to boost your breast milk supply, download Pinky’s FREE e-book ‘Making More Mummy Milk, Naturally’ at www.boobiebikkies.com.au