You hear all the time about changing breastmilk that is tailored to meet your baby's needs. But what exactly does this mean? Did you know your baby’s age, even their gender affects breast milk composition? The time of day, the climate you live in. Even the composition changes over the course of a feed. The flavour of the food that you eat will also impact the flavour of your milk!
Age of your baby.
Colostrum is your 1st milk.
The small volumes of colostrum allow your baby time to learn how to suck, swallow and breathe.
It helps to strengthen your baby's immune system.
It helps to establish a healthy gut by coating the intestines, which helps keep harmful bacteria from being
absorbed..
It also has a laxative effect that helps your baby clear meconium (your baby's first poo) and reduces risk of jaundice.
Colostrum will change to transitional milk from ⅗ days to mature milk by day 14.
Your milk volume will then actually stay in or around the same but composition will change.
If your baby is born early your milk will be higher in protein, protective agents and growth factors, as well fats and minerals compared to full-term breast milk.
The time of day.
Breast milk is like a biological clock, changing every hour.
Did you know your milk at night is higher in melatonin? This will help your baby to sleep.
In the morning your milk has more cortisol for alertness.
By breastfeeding, you are helping your infant establish their circadian rhythm of being awake during the day and asleep at night.
Over the course of a feed.
As the feed progresses, the fat composition gradually increases due to the mechanics of milk moving through the breast.
You may have heard the terms ‘foremilk’ and ‘hindmilk’, but there isn’t an obvious point when your breast milk changes from one type to the other. The composition alters gradually as you nurse.
Other factors.
Milk will have a higher water content when the weather is hot to help keep your baby well hydrated.
Research shows the breast milk a mother produces for her male infant is higher in fat than the milk produced for a female infant.
What you eat also impacts the flavour of your milk. Babies who are breastfed tend to enjoy a greater variety of foods and flavours versus babies who only receive formula.
If you and your baby are sick, your body will produce antibodies specific to your illness, that are transferred into your milk! Amazing!
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