What is in human milk. Breast milk and colostrum: benefits, composition and properties

The baby controls the breast, ordering exactly the milk that he needs in this moment.

The amount of fat in milk increases throughout feeding. This is not some minor increase: it has been confirmed that the concentration of fat at the end of feeding can be five times higher than at the beginning of one. Sometimes one speaks of "forward" and "hind" milk; but don't think that there are really two kinds of milk: pop! - the skimmed milk is over, now another one will go, with cream. The amount of fat (and, accordingly, calories) increases gradually, as shown in the graph.

At first, the child receives a few calories in a large volume of milk, in the end - a lot of calories in a small volume of it. As you can see, there is no time axis on this graph. The time depends on how fast the baby is suckling at the moment; he can drink whatever he wants in two or three minutes, or he can spend more than twenty.

Thus, the more milk a baby drinks from one breast during that particular feed, the fatter it will be (theoretically there is a maximum, but it is impossible to reach it, since, as mentioned above, no infant completely empties the breast). When he releases the chest, the last drops contain a lot of fat. When he starts sucking again a few hours later, there will be very little fat in the first drops of milk. The rest of the concentrated milk was gradually diluted with new, more watery. It is believed that there is a control mechanism here too: when a baby leaves a lot of fat milk in the breast, it acts as an inhibitor in relation to the production of new fats, so that more watery milk will be produced later. As if the child were saying: “Mom, I don’t eat this pasta, there’s a lot of oil in them!” - and my mother answered him: "Nothing, next time I'll pour less."

Let's say the baby sucks, then releases the breast, and five minutes later he has already changed his mind - and is applied again. Will he get low fat milk? Of course not - just not enough time for the new milk to dilute what was left in the breast from the last time. From the very beginning, the milk will be the same milk that he recently drank. The amount of fat at the start of a feed depends both on the level of the last feed and on the time that has elapsed since the last feed.

We talk about the same breast all the time. But there is also a second one. Drinking 100 ml from a single breast is not the same as drinking 50 ml from each. In the second case, the baby will get much less fat, and therefore much fewer calories. Drinking 70 ml from one and 30 ml from the other, or 85 ml from one and 15 ml from the other are also different things ...

But if there is a difference, what is the best way to do it? When to take the first breast from the baby and give the second? I have no idea. We don't know exactly how much fat an infant needs. Nutrition books may contain data such as: "An infant between the sixth and ninth months of life needs X to Y milligrams of fat per kilogram of body weight per day," but no book will tell us how much fat a particular Laura Perez needs, eight months old, on this particular day at 16.28. We don't know how much fat was in the milk at the beginning of a feed, or how many milliliters the baby has already drunk, or at what rate the proportion of fat in milk increases at that particular feed. And we do not know how much fat will be in the milk from the second breast, and also how much of this milk will fit in the baby's stomach. How then can one say: “In ten minutes, take away the first breast from the baby and offer him the second”? It's impossible to guess! Common sense unambiguously indicates that an equation with so many unknowns has no solution.

Thus, each infant has three mechanisms at his disposal to change the composition of milk at any given moment: he can decide how much milk to drink, how long to wait before the next application, and whether to suckle only one breast or both. By analyzing milk obtained under different circumstances, mankind has received experimental confirmation that these three factors affect its composition. The amount drunk to some extent depends on how much time the child spent at the breast; but the ratio can be so different (some babies suckle fast, others suckle slowly) that statistically it just doesn't exist. You can’t say: “If he stayed at the chest for five minutes, then he drank 80 milliliters, and if ten, then 130 milliliters.” The concentration of lipids does not depend on the time during which the child suckled, but on the amount of milk that he drank during this time. So, in relation to a particular child and a particular attachment, it is quite obvious that if he is taken away from his breast earlier, then he will drink less. On the other hand, it is easy to measure the sucking time, but the volume of the drink is very difficult. Thus, from purely didactic considerations, we can say that the three control mechanisms are as follows: the duration of application, the frequency of application, and whether the child is fed from only one breast or from two. Every child, at every moment of time, day or night, freely manipulates these three factors in order to get the nutrition he needs.

When the first breast is taken away from the child before he himself releases it (perhaps because someone, sincerely wanting to help, advised: “Be sure to try to give him the second breast before he falls asleep!”), He instead of the rear milk from the first breast will drink the first from the second. This means that in order to get the required number of calories, he will have to drink a larger volume. If the difference is small, most likely nothing will happen. The kid will drink a little more milk - and cheers. But if he was forced to change breasts when he still had to drink a lot from the first (for example, after ten minutes they take the breast from a child who needs fifteen or twenty), he would have to drink so much milk that it simply does not fit in the stomach.

In adults, the volume of the stomach is much larger than what is usually used; we could drink a liter of water after dinner and nothing would happen to us. But babies have a tiny stomach, there is no extra space in it. The child has to let go of the second breast, because it no longer “enters”, but he is still hungry ... The situation is very similar to that which occurs when the position is incorrect at the breast.

In 1988, Michael Woolridge and Chloe Fisher published in the respected medical journal The Lancet a case report of five infants who were constantly suffering from frequent crying, colic, diarrhea, and other such troubles. It turned out that it was enough to recommend mothers not to take the first breast from their children, but to wait until they let it go themselves, so that all the listed complaints would stop.

Shortly thereafter, Woolridge and other researchers tried to replicate the situation experimentally in a group of healthy infants who had no feeding problems. Half of the mothers were instructed to wean their baby's first breast ten minutes after the start of feeding, and the other half to wait for the baby to release the breast voluntarily. The children in the first group were expected to have too much liquid, too much lactose, and too little fat, and so they would have colic, regurgitation, and increased gas production. So it was, at first the children received less fat. But they themselves modified the two remaining factors - the time between feedings and the choice between one breast and two, so that during the day they got the same amount of fat as the other group, and they had no complaints as a result.

Since the baby has three means to regulate the composition of milk (remember: the frequency of attachments, their duration, and the choice between one breast and both), most children are likely to cope with this task even when they have two of these means, and for the third variable we will choose some constant value. It may be that those children who will have problems if suckling time is limited are children with physiologically less adaptability (or so are their mothers). For example, we all know how to walk too, but if you have to run, someone runs slower and gets tired earlier than others.

The adaptability of living beings can be arbitrarily great, but one should not expect miracles from it. Over the past century, many doctors have tried to control all three factors at once: the child had to suckle each breast for exactly ten minutes once every four hours. The desire for accuracy sometimes acquired a downright painful character; it still happens that a mother wonders whether to count four hours from the beginning or from the end of feeding. Of course: ten minutes for each breast, and even a minute for spitting up - together for four hours and twenty-one minutes! Many books and specialists did not even say "once every four hours", but instead called exact time: at eight in the morning, at twelve, at eight in the evening and at twelve at night. Don't even think about feeding at nine, one and five! From midnight until eight in the morning, an eight-hour “night rest” was planned (to spend half the night without sleep, hearing your baby cry, not being able to breastfeed him - yes, yes, this was called a night rest!).

Four hours - this was the technique of the German pediatric school. There was also a French one, which recommended breastfeeding every three hours with a six-hour night break. (I wonder if such a difference in the regimen of infants influenced the formation of a national character in the respective countries?) different countries there were both supporters of the idea of ​​giving only one breast in one feeding, and those who offered to give two at once (there were more second ones), so in general there were four theories: one breast every four hours, two every four, two every three and one every three .

Usually in real life each pediatrician adhered to one particular theory and defended it to the best of his ability. Thus, the children were completely defenseless: they were not allowed to choose either the frequency, or the duration, or the number of breasts at each feeding. They could not control either the amount of milk or its composition, they had to be content with what they give. In most cases, they got too little, and the composition was inappropriate. Children cried, complained, burped, did not gain weight... A few years ago in Spain, it was considered rare to still breastfeed a three-month-old baby, and feeding him without the help of bottles was almost heroic.

It is clear that there are also such cases when the stars add up exceptionally well and the child receives the amount of milk he needs with the right composition, although he suckles every four hours for ten minutes. Because of these rare exceptions, doctors have become increasingly assertive in their opinion about the benefits of a strict regimen: “Feeding on demand is all nonsense. I myself knew a mother who exactly observed the four-hour intervals - and everything was fine with her, she fed for nine months, and the baby slept perfectly, and added weight, as expected. It’s just that moms are now lazy, they don’t want to make efforts, with a mixture, you see, it’s easier for them.

The process of milk production by the mammary glands is called lactation. Human milk is a natural biological product and is the main factor in the adaptation of the newborn to extrauterine life. Its composition has not yet been fully deciphered, and discoveries in this area occur as new research methods are used. At present, it is known that mother's milk is the equivalent of umbilical blood and carries not only nutrition for the baby, but also many protective, regulatory substances, growth and maturation factors, hormones and hormone-like compounds, etc. According to WHO research, mature breast milk contains hundreds of different components.

The difficulty in studying the qualitative and quantitative composition of breast milk lies in the fact that it is very variable during lactation and depends on many factors. Even in one mother in different mammary glands, milk differs in composition and changes from feeding to feeding, not to mention the entire lactation period. As we have already said, the main reason for these differences is the individual needs of each child, which change as he develops. Interesting Facts cited in the WHO Bulletin (Feeding in the first year of life: a physiological basis, 1989) - women who feed twins, each child of which prefers a specific breast, sometimes notice different types of milk.

Now consider the main components of breast milk.

Milk is a complex aqueous emulsion, which includes fat droplets, proteins, carbohydrates, salts, vitamins, microelements and other substances. All components can be divided into nutrients that replenish the energy and plastic needs of the child's body and non-nutritional, necessary for maturation and growth, development, protection against infections, etc.

PROTEIN

The protein content of mature breast milk is approximately 1%. This is significantly lower than in the milk of other mammals. Proteins are represented by casein and whey fractions. Casein protein is synthesized directly in the mammary gland, while whey is filtered from the mother's blood. The ratio of these fractions in women's milk is 20: 80 (30: 70), in cow's milk, on the contrary, most of it is represented by caseins 80: 20. In the process of digestion, casein under the action gastric juice forms larger flakes than whey proteins and is therefore more difficult to absorb. Breast milk forms almost invisible flakes in the stomach, which facilitates digestion and is quickly evacuated from the stomach. This makes it possible to often apply the child to the breast without fear of overloading the gastrointestinal tract and indigestion.

Whey proteins of human milk are represented mainly by alpha-lactoglobulin, an important component of the enzyme system in the synthesis of lactose. It should be noted that breast milk substitutes are made on the basis of cow (goat) milk and contain beta-lactoglobulin as a whey protein, which is a powerful allergen.

In women's milk, a higher level of free amino acids is determined, among which the most important are cysteine ​​and taurine, since their synthesis in young children is difficult. Cysteine ​​is essential for the fetus and premature babies, and taurine is essential for the maturation and development of the central nervous system, as it serves as a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator.

FATS

In women's milk, fats are in the form of microscopic balls, much smaller in size than in cow's milk. This is the most variable component, since the fat content varies from 2% (in colostrum) to 4 - 4.5% (in mature milk). Interestingly, the concentration of fat in hindmilk is 4 to 5 times higher than in foremilk and this acts as a satiety regulator. Therefore, the duration of feeding should not be regulated and may vary depending on the condition of the child. If the baby is only thirsty, he satisfies it within 5-10 minutes with foremilk, which is poor in fats and stops sucking, and, conversely, with a strong feeling of hunger, he can spend up to 1-1.5 hours at the breast. WHO studies have shown that children regulate their own energy intake, but the mechanisms of this have not been elucidated.

The fatty acids that make up breast milk are relatively stable in composition and are represented by 57% unsaturated and 42% saturated fatty acids. Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are essential for myelination and maturation of the CNS, among which the most important are arachidonic and linolenic fatty acids. Their content in women's milk is almost 4 times higher than in cow's milk. The synthesis of prostaglandins in the child's gastrointestinal tract depends on the presence of these fatty acids, which affect many functions that activate digestion and maturation of intestinal cells and thus the entire protective mechanism. Breast milk is rich in prostaglandins, while substitutes do not contain them at all.

The main source of energy for the fetus is glucose, and for the newborn and infant - fat. They provide 35 - 50% of the daily energy requirement. Interestingly, only human milk and the milk of some primates contain enzymes that ensure the digestion of fats.

CARBOHYDRATES

The main carbohydrate component of human milk is lactose, otherwise it is called milk sugar. This sugar is specific to milk only and is found in the greatest amount in human milk (4% in colostrum and up to 7% in mature milk). Lactose is a disaccharide that, when broken down by the enzyme lactase, produces glucose and galactose. Lactase is found only in the gastrointestinal tract of mammals. Glucose is a source of energy, and galactose is used for the synthesis of galactopeptides necessary for the development of the central nervous system. In addition, lactose stimulates the formation of intestinal colonies of Lactobacillus bifidus.

Other components of breast milk carbohydrates - oligosaccharides, fructose, galactose, are contained in small quantities. One of the types of oligosaccharides is known as the "bifidus factor", it promotes the reproduction of beneficial microflora in the intestines, and prevents the development of pathogenic ones.

VITAMINS

The content of vitamins in breast milk depends on the needs of the child, mother's nutrition, lactation period. In colostrum and early (front) milk, most vitamins are found in higher concentrations than in mature and late (hind) milk. Therefore, fore milk, rich in vitamins, should not be expressed before feeding. According to modern research, vitamin D is found mainly in foremilk and is there in a water-soluble (inactive) form, which, as the child needs, is transformed into a fat-soluble (active) form.

Cases of vitamin deficiency in breastfed babies are rare, even if the mother is a vegetarian. In the second year of life, vitamin deficiencies (particularly vitamin A) are more common in infants who are weaned early than in those who continue to breastfeed.

MACRO AND MICRO ELEMENTS

Minerals in breast milk are contained in an easily digestible form (compounds), which provides high percent their absorption in the gastrointestinal tract of the child. There are many other factors that improve absorption - certain proportions of minerals and vitamins, the presence of excipients that are found only in breast milk (lactoferrin), etc. So the iron of women's milk is absorbed by 70%, the iron of cow's milk is 30%, and the iron that is part of the mixtures is only 10%.

In order for a bottle-fed child to receive a sufficient amount of minerals, their content in breast milk substitutes is significantly increased, which cannot but cause negative effects on the baby's body.

Trace elements in human milk are presented a wide range, and how macronutrients are significantly different from those found in blends. In conclusion, I would like to note that a child who is breastfed is less prone to deficiency or excess of macro- and microelements.

IMMUNE FACTORS

Mother's milk has a dual effect on the baby's body. On the one hand, it itself has protective properties, on the other hand, it stimulates the development of the baby's own immune system.

Immediately after birth, a huge number of microorganisms, toxins that they produce, allergens enter the baby's body. It is hard to imagine how the immature immune system of a newborn would have coped with such an attack, if not for mother's milk. Women's milk, and especially colostrum, contains a huge amount of protective factors such as class A, M, G immunoglobulins, lysozyme and other enzymes, lactoferrin, bifidus factor, macrophages, lymphocytes, neutrophils, and epithelial cells. Immunoglobulins, especially secretory immunoglobulin A, envelop the baby's gastrointestinal tract and prevent pathogens from infiltrating it. At the same time, the maturation of the intestinal epithelium and the production of digestive enzymes are stimulated.

In the mother's body, the process of producing antibodies against bacteria and viruses that enter her body is constantly going on. These antibodies pass into milk and protect the baby against many pathogens. Fragments of viruses also enter breast milk, stimulating the sensitivity of the baby's body to them, resulting in effective immunization.

HORMONES

According to modern research, breast milk contains more than 20 types of hormones. Moreover, the concentration of some of them is several times higher than the concentration in the blood of the mother. These hormones include oxytocin, prolactin, some sex hormones, prostaglandins, growth hormone, insulin, etc. Thyroid hormones are contained in lower concentrations.

Thus, breast milk actively affects the metabolism and various processes in the child's body. Obviously, breast milk substitutes cannot have similar properties.

ENZYMES

Enzymes (enzymes) are one of the components of human milk. Most of them are multifunctional - they reflect the processes occurring in the mammary glands and are necessary for the development of the newborn. Many enzymes are found in higher concentrations in colostrum than in mature milk (for example, lysozyme).

It is not possible to introduce enzymes into mixtures.

OTHER SUBSTANCES

Human milk contains nucleotides involved in lipid metabolism, as well as numerous growth factors (epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, nervous tissue growth factor, human milk growth factor). Their role in the development of the child has not yet been fully elucidated.

Component	Average values ​​for mature breast milk	Infant formula	Cow's milk
Energy KJ	280	250-315	276
kcal	67	60-75	66
Protein (g)	1,3	1,2-1,95	3,2
Fat (g)	4,2	2,1-4,2	3,9
Carbs (g)	7	4,6-9,1	4,6
Sodium (mg)	15	13-39	55
Chlorine (mg)	43	32,5-81	97
Calcium (mg)	35	59	120
Phosphorus (mg)	15	16,3-58,5	92
Iron (mg)	76	325-975	60
Vitamin A (mc g)	60	39-117	35
Vitamin C (mg)	3,8	5,2	1,8
Vitamin D (mc g)	0,01	0,65-1,63	0,08

Composition (per 100 ml) of mature breast milk and cow's milk and recommendations on the composition of infant formula.

• Acceptable range for the composition of infant formula (one value indicates the minimum allowable values).
• Genuine protein = 0.85g per 100ml (excluding non-protein nitrogen), although some of the non-protein nitrogen is used for life support and physical development of infants.
• Iron in breast milk is characterized by high bioavailability, absorption is 50 - 70%.
• Iron in infant formula is characterized by low bioavailability, absorption is only 10%.

The first six months there is an intensive development of all organs and systems, adaptation to the outside world, so it is so necessary to give the crumbs the maximum through food. No one in the world has yet created a mixture that would be a complete analogue of mother's milk.

Our article will talk about the benefits of breastfeeding, the composition of human milk and convince you to keep breastfeeding and this natural product for as long as possible.

The female breast is not only a beautiful property of a woman, but also an organ that allows you to feed babies. This is due to the fact that the gland is divided into ducts and narrow channels. At the exit at the nipple, the ducts have extensions - the lactiferous sinuses.

And at the other end of these ducts are cells that produce milk. Cells form groups - alveoli, of which there are a great many.

So, a woman becomes pregnant, bears a baby for a long time. At this time, complex processes take place in the brain, due to which prolactin begins to be produced. This hormone is released into the blood after the baby is born.

The second assistant in the allocation of milk is the hormone oxytocin. It expands the lactiferous sinuses, and when the nipple is captured by the baby's mouth, the milk moves freely through the ducts and easily leaves the breast. Only the coordinated work of these two hormones will enable calm and proper breastfeeding.

Scientists have proven that a woman's milk is "in the head." This means that if a woman has a great desire to breastfeed, then her body mobilizes all the forces and opportunities for the formation of milk. But if a woman does not want this, then, most likely, she will not have enough milk.

Milk is produced in the mammary glands by special cells. This process should normally occur in women only during pregnancy and after childbirth.

Signals from the brain stimulate the production of a hormone - prolactin, which, in turn, ensures the production of milk. Even before giving birth, a woman may notice a discharge from the mammary glands - colostrum.

Colostrum has the following properties:

• low fat
• high-calorie,
• with a high content of trace elements and vitamins,
• saturated with proteins.

In our country, early attachment to the breast in the delivery room is welcome. This is necessary in order to stimulate lactation in the mother. Colostrum helps plant a "seed of health" in the crumbs, and also stimulates the sucking reflex.

Colostrum is produced in small quantities. And the first day after birth, the baby can very often be applied to the chest and literally “hang” on it. Early milk is an "assistant" in the formation of a healthy digestive tract of an infant. It has a very powerful immunostimulating effect.

Colostrum is not too fatty in composition and is easily digested, which is so necessary for the first days of a baby's life. The volume of the stomach of a newborn is no more than a teaspoon, so nature intended it so as not to overload the digestive tract too much.

transitional milk

It begins to be produced by 3-4 days after childbirth and is produced for about a week, until the next transition to mature milk. The difference from colostrum is a high fat content, a larger volume.

The composition changes - the content of protein, sodium, potassium decreases. The fat and carbohydrate component also increases.

This natural product is divided into:

• front,
• back.

The body of a woman produces one breast milk, and in the mammary gland it is already divided into two types. During the tide (the arrival of milk) it is in the breast, and more fatty milk (hind) remains in the ducts. Accordingly, the more liquid (anterior) flows closer to the nipple.

Fore and hind milk are similar in chemical and vitamin composition. They are distinguished only by the amount of fat, and hence the calorie content, saturation.

Foremilk is designed to quench a baby's thirst. It is allocated at the beginning of the act of sucking. It has a more liquid consistency and a blue color. Produced in small quantities.

Hindmilk is the main source of nutrition. In order to get it, the baby needs to make an effort when sucking.

Therefore, during one feeding, try to give one breast. If the baby leaves her early, take your time, offer again.

Hindmilk is more nutritious and contains the most fat, which is why babies love to fall asleep while sucking on their mother's breasts. Hindmilk has all the necessary nutrients, which we will talk about later.

Useful properties of breast milk

• balanced composition of fats, proteins and carbohydrates;
• the main source of food and drink for an infant;
• prevention of allergic reactions;
• milk can fight cancer cells.

  Scientists from Sweden have proven that albumins in the composition of milk can defeat about 40 types of cancerous tumors;

• normal functioning and strengthening of the immune system. Since it contains many protective antibodies, this is a good prevention. infectious diseases. The presence of stem cells in milk makes the baby resistant to diseases;
• facilitates the adaptation of the baby's digestive system;
• intensive development of the brain due to lactose sugars and complex proteins;
• breastfed babies are less likely to suffer from stomach problems.

The advantages of breastfeeding

• mothers who feed their children experience a sense of satisfaction with motherhood, as they give them what no one else can give;
• saving time. You do not need to boil bottles, nipples, get up at night and warm the mixture. Also handy on long trips. All it takes is your chest;
• when suckling a baby, the mother produces the hormone oxytocin, which reduces stress levels;
• communication and close contact with the mother. Baby food is additional opportunity to be alone with your mother, enjoy her smell, care, warmth;
• education palatability child. The more you eat a variety of, but healthy and hypoallergenic foods, the more often the taste of milk will change. So the baby will learn new taste qualities through milk.

Komarovsky: “After childbirth, when sucking, the hormone oxytocin is produced, which contributes to uterine contraction, which, in turn, leads to a rapid recovery of internal organs.”

What is the immune defense of human milk?

1. Immune cells - lymphocytes, macrophages.
2. Immunoglobulin class A. This is the protection of the mucous membrane from harmful agents. It remains active in the child's stomach, protects its mucous membrane.

   A child receives half a gram of immunoglobulin per day with milk, and this is 50 times higher than what patients with immunodeficiencies receive in injections.

3. Lysozyme. Moreover, its concentration becomes greater in the second year of lactation.
4. Bifidobacteria.

Breast milk contains about 500 different components.

According to WHO, milk carries value for the child the first 2 years of life.

1. The main component is water. It is about 90% in milk. It helps to avoid dehydration of the child's body.
2. Protein in a quantitative ratio of about one percent, one of the most important components for the normal growth of the body. Provides the development of the muscular, circulatory and nervous systems.

   With the increase in the "age" of milk, proteins tend to decrease. This is due to the fact that the growth rate of the baby after a year is more dependent on ordinary food. The need for breast milk proteins is reduced.

3. Fats. They are available in a small amount - 4%, since it is very difficult for a newborn to absorb fatty milk.

Carbohydrates - about 7%. Lactose is a substance necessary for the development of normal intestinal microflora. Promotes the destruction of pathogenic flora.

The baby is born, as they say, "to the set table." At the disposal of the baby, mother's milk is the best food in the world: in terms of the richness of useful substances, it is unrivaled. The child grows and develops, getting everything he needs from reservoirs that do not deplete. A woman takes the generous gift of nature for granted, often without thinking, under the influence of which a white nutrient liquid suddenly appears in the mammary glands. Meanwhile, the mechanism of formation of breast milk is debugged in the process of biological evolution to the details. Let's figure out how this happens.

Who and how conjures in the dairy kitchen

The natural process of producing women's milk, which accumulates in the mammary glands, and then is regularly excreted, is called lactation (from the Latin lacto - I feed with milk). Milk begins to stand out from the nipples immediately after childbirth, but preparation for lactation is in full swing already during pregnancy.

The secret of the formation of mother's milk was of interest to scientists of the ancient world. In ancient Egypt, they wrote scientific papers on how to increase the amount of children's food; Aristotle recommended not to give babies colostrum (and was very wrong), and Hippocrates put forward a hypothesis about the origin of milk from ... menstrual blood.

Over the past half century, medical science has received more information about the product that a woman's mammary glands produce than in all the past centuries. Proved that:

It seems that a "thinking" substance flows in the mother's body, which sees its task in laying a strong foundation for health for a small person.

The "Elixir of Life" still holds many secrets: scientists have not yet been able to synthesize it - advanced technologies have been powerless to unravel the full composition of the nutrient fluid.

Breast milk contains from five hundred to a thousand valuable substances for the body; in laboratory studies, seven hundred species of beneficial bacteria were found in it - for the formation of intestinal microflora - as well as a small number of harmful microorganisms. It is assumed that the baby’s immune system “trains” on pathogenic microbes: it learns to produce antibodies that kill pathogens.

"Creators" of breast milk

Female sex hormones are responsible for preparing the body for lactation. At different stages, certain hormones are “connected” to the process. So, from the first trimester of pregnancy, the breast begins to grow - this is the result of an increase in synthesis:

• estrogen;
• gonadotropins;
• prolactin.

On the later dates level up:

• progesterone;
• placental lactogen;
• corticosteroids.

Thus, hormones, clearly performing their functions, prepare the breast for lactation. A woman feels how the glands literally “bursting”, they become more sensitive. Nipples darken, swell. Nearby there are tubercles, in them under the skin there are glands with sebum - a natural moisturizer that will help the nipples remain soft and elastic.

An increase in breast size, a feeling of heaviness - the result of the work of hormones in preparation for lactation

Prolactin

12 weeks before birth, it's time for breast milk to form. Prolactin is responsible for the process: the hormone is actively involved in the work, the glands begin to produce colostrum. If there were no deterrent factors, in the third trimester, milk was already flowing from the chest of a pregnant woman. However, the activity of prolactin is partially blocked by estrogen and progesterone circulating in the bloodstream.

Before childbirth, the level of progesterone and estrogen drops. Prolactin no longer holds back anything - it stimulates milk production without obstacles. The woman's breasts are growing again - especially since the milk does not flow out. But then the newborn was put to the breast, the baby grabbed the nipple and began to suck eagerly - first colostrum, then real milk.

Prolactin is produced in the cells of the anterior pituitary gland. When a baby is born, 70-80% of the pituitary cells are "plugged in" to produce the hormone. It has been observed that production increases at night, during sleep - that is why nursing mothers are advised to get enough sleep (note that for many this is an unattainable dream).

Night sleep - the time it takes for a breastfeeding woman to produce the "maternity hormone" prolactin

When a baby suckles, the nerve endings in the nipple are irritated. Impulses go along the fibers to the brain, as if informing - we need prolactin! The pituitary gland responds with increased production of the hormone. As a result, more prolactin means more milk. Here is the secret of the inexhaustible supply of baby food: the child, actively sucking, stimulates the flow of food for the next feeding.

However, the formation of prolactin threatens to slow down if the baby does not take the breast correctly, capturing only the tip of the nipple. As a result of sluggish sucking, the brain receives too weak a nerve impulse. Mom notices that there is less milk. To refill the breast, teach your child to take the entire nipple into his mouth, as well as part of the areola (pigmented area around the nipple).

The amount of breast milk from mother depends on the correct capture of the nipple by the baby.

Oxytocin

It's a hormone regulator. Organizes the movement of breast milk through the ducts of the mammary gland. Oxytocin is produced, like prolactin, in the pituitary gland, from where it enters the bloodstream.

After active sucking, along with prolactin, the amount of oxytocin also increases. The hormone relaxes the muscles - as a result, milk moves without obstacles to the nipple, and then into the baby's mouth. At these moments, the nursing mother feels the so-called hot flashes. Oxytocin is also able to act in the intervals between feedings - then a little milk spontaneously flows from the breast.

The hormone also affects:

• on muscle contractions of the uterus, which helps stop bleeding after childbirth;
• on the mood, emotions, mental state of a woman;
• on the smell of the breast - attracts the baby so that he himself reaches for the nipple.

If the mother is in a bad mood or stressed, there is not enough oxytocin: the muscles are compressed, do not relax, the milk is blocked. Sometimes even a breast pump does not help. The woman thinks that the milk is gone, but all that is needed is to calm down. The production of oxytocin depends only on the emotional state of the nursing mother.

What is milk made of and how is it made?

AT chest women have alveoli - miniature "bags" of glandular tissue. Each alveolus is a tiny laboratory where mother's milk is created and stored.

On the eve of childbirth, the circulation of blood and lymph in the woman’s body increases: the expectant mother feels her breasts getting heavier - this is filled with milk in the alveoli. Nutritious baby food is a product formed from particles of blood and lymph; substances from the mother's food, previously broken down to molecules, enter these fluids. That's why:

• a woman's nutrition does not directly affect the quality of breast milk; however, microparticles of products such as onions and garlic change the taste of infant food (and it is not at all necessary that the baby refuses "garlic" milk);
• in terms of properties, breast milk is similar to lymph and blood: it does not coagulate in the thoracic ducts under the influence of high body temperature, just as blood does not coagulate in the vessels, and does not deteriorate.

So, milk accumulates in the alveoli of the breast. The "bags" are collected in clusters (an analogy with a grapevine suggests itself), and the clusters form lobules of the mammary gland. From the alveoli, the ducts stretch, on the way connecting with each other and at the very nipple forming milk sinuses - dilated ducts. There are 15–25 sinuses in each breast. The milk then enters the teat pores, and from there into the baby's mouth, which is irrigated with a spray of nutrient fluid.

Slices with alveoli - storage of breast milk, from where it enters through the ducts to the nipple

And again - about the correct capture of the breast: the more actively the baby sucks, capturing the entire nipple with his lips, the more he squeezes the sinuses with his lips and the more milk he receives. If the baby grabs only part of the nipple, the sinuses remain at rest, and the milk is squeezed out of them drop by drop. As a result, the child remains hungry.

Three ages of breast milk

The milk that appeared immediately after childbirth differs in composition from the one that comes later. Depending on the time of appearance of the nutrient fluid, three stages of milk formation are distinguished (they also say that breast milk has three ages):

1. Colostrum - begins to be produced 12 weeks before childbirth, but can periodically stand out from the nipples as early as the second trimester of pregnancy. The first baby food flows out of the breast for another 3-4 days after the baby is born.
2. Transitional milk is produced before the baby is one month old.
3. Mature milk - feeds the baby until the end of lactation.

“With age,” breast milk changes both in texture and color

Colostrum is the first food in life

In a yellowish liquid of a thick sticky consistency - a lot of nutrients and antibodies. Colostrum performs three main tasks:

• helps the newborn get used to a new way of getting food;
• promotes the development of the intestinal epithelium, preparing for the assimilation of mature milk;
• protects the baby from infection and allergies.

There is not much water in the composition of colostrum: the work of the kidneys in the child is only getting better, so the need for drinking is low. Mainly first milk contains:

• a high concentration of leukocytes and immunoglobulins - for the development of immunity in a child;
• beneficial microflora;
• protein complex - the concentration of proteins is 2-3 times higher than in mature milk; protein lactoferrin removes excess iron, which feed on pathogenic microbes;
• amino acids - also 2 times more than in milk, which will come later;
• vitamins A, C, D, E, beta-carotene;
• trace elements - sodium, chlorine, zinc, selenium.

Most antibodies in colostrum are found immediately after the baby is born, so it is important to follow the ritual of breastfeeding for 30 minutes. The child receives the first immune protection - and it is very reliable.

There is little fat and lactose (milk sugar) in colostrum. Despite the complex composition and density, the first milk is easily digested without overloading digestive system, which is just being formed; The stomach of a newborn is no more than a teaspoon in volume. And colostrum is needed to get enough, just a little bit - about 30 ml per day. Sometimes mom panics: the first milk is so small that it’s not even noticeable whether the baby is getting something from the breast or not. However, if the baby is regularly emptied, there is enough food. You need to feed at this time often - 8-12 times a day.

Colostrum helps to release a small organism from bilirubin - this breakdown product of hemoglobin provokes the development of jaundice.

During pregnancy, colostrum can cause irritation and anxiety, for example:

• ooze from the chest, serving as a breeding ground for pathogenic microbes; buy breast pads at the pharmacy, change them often;
• cause a desire to express, which is absolutely impossible to do: provoke the production of oxytocin, as a result, the tone of the uterus will increase and there will be a threat of miscarriage or premature birth;
• contain blood impurities - in some situations this is considered the norm, but it is better to consult a doctor.

Immediately after childbirth, a mother can find colostrum on the nipples of a newborn daughter. It's okay: the hormone prolactin from the mother got to the child in the womb. Soon the hormonal background will return to normal, the discharge will disappear.

transitional milk

On the 3rd-4th day of feeding, milk arrives quickly; chest thickens, hot to the touch; sometimes mom feels pain. Change the color and composition of milk. The nutrient fluid gradually turns white, it already contains more water. Other changes:

• the amount of sodium and chlorine decreases;
• the amount of protein decreases;
• the level of lactose and fats rises so that the baby's body grows and develops; colostrum did its job, partially adapted the stomach and intestines to receive complex food.

Distinguish between early and late transitional milk. Early is formed about a week after colostrum. Later, which step by step prepares the baby's body for the absorption of mature milk, is secreted by the mammary glands from 3 weeks to 3 months. If the mother is not giving birth for the first time, the transition to mature milk is shorter - from one month to one and a half.

In the first weeks of lactation, breast milk is produced under the action of hormones, which means that its amount does not depend on the frequency of applying the baby to the breast. Later, endocrine control weakens, and milk production is regulated by the emptying of the mammary glands: how much the child has sucked out, so much will arrive at the next feeding.

mature milk

The nursing mother feels the arrival of such milk according to the following signs:

• the chest becomes softer;
• before feeding, the breast no longer "bursts"; the tides go;
• milk production stops between feedings (this was the case when hormones were responsible for lactation); milk is now produced when the baby suckles at the breast.

Mature milk is white or bluish in color. It differs in composition from colostrum and transition:

• twice the content of proteins and amino acids;
• significantly higher levels of fats and carbohydrates;
• there are fewer laxative components, which is why the baby walks “in a big way” less than in the first weeks of life.

There are approximately 67 kcal in 100 grams of breast milk.

Mature milk, like healthy foods, contains components important for life. Only in one product there is no such unique combination of substances.

Water

There was very little of it in colostrum; Mature milk is already 87% water. Therefore, if the baby is exclusively breastfed, there is no need to supplement the baby: mother's milk is both food and drink.

The liquid contained in milk is absorbed better than any other.

Carbohydrates

7% of breast milk is carbohydrates, mostly the milk sugar lactose. In order for lactose to be broken down in the body without problems, mother's milk also contains a special enzyme called lactase.

Carbohydrates are needed for:

• development of beneficial intestinal microflora;
• normal absorption of iron and calcium;
• development of the brain and nervous system.

Fats

Breast milk contains 4.5% fat; to make it easier to digest, the “kit” includes the enzyme lipase, which can break down fats. Of particular value are polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6; in breast milk, their ratio is ideal - 5:1. Fatty acids are responsible for the development of the baby's intelligence and the formation of the nervous system.

Fats have a high energy value. However, after 6 months of a baby's life, the amount of fat in mother's milk decreases: the period of intensive growth and weight gain is over, the need for energy has decreased.

Squirrels

They serve as building blocks for cells. In mature milk, only 1% of proteins; consist of the same substances as blood proteins - globulins and albumins - the baby's body easily absorbs them. The decrease in the amount of proteins is explained by the introduction of complementary foods from the 6th month of lactation: there are also a lot of “building materials” in mashed potatoes and cereals, and in order to avoid a protein “overdose”, which means an increased load on the liver and kidneys, milk changes its composition.

The role of breast milk proteins:

• participate in the formation of skin tissues;
• process fats, synthesize nucleic acids;
• help develop nervous system;
• form the body's defenses (immunoglobulins are proteins);
• contribute to the growth of the baby.

Vitamins and trace elements

A small amount of these beneficial substances (1%) in mother's milk is compensated by a balanced composition and effectiveness of the effect on the baby's body. So, calcium is perfectly absorbed due to the optimal ratio with phosphorus. Iron from women's milk is absorbed by 50-70% - while from cow's milk by a maximum of 10%. And all because in mature breast milk, the amount of folic acid increases, which helps to break down the microelement.

Here are just a few beneficial features vitamins and microelements:

• improve metabolism;
• participate in the structure of bone tissue, the synthesis of collagen - connective tissue;
• normalize the work of the digestive tract;
• supply oxygen to tissues and organs;
• coordinate kidney function, support liver function;
• strengthen immunity;
• protect cells from attacks by free radicals.

Breast milk also contains 20 types of hormones, including sex hormones, growth hormones, and thyroid hormones.

Fore and hind milk

So conditionally divided the nutrient fluid. Fore milk is more accessible to the baby, concentrated at the nipples; It contains a lot of liquid, proteins and lactose. Sometimes it takes on a bluish tint. In the first few minutes of breastfeeding, the baby's services are exclusively foremilk, the task of which is to quench the thirst for crumbs.

Toward the end of a feed, it is the turn of the hindmilk. It has a rich white color, the concentration of fat is 4-5 times higher than in foremilk. Of course, the rear is more nutritious, so it is important that the baby “gets” to it, otherwise it will remain hungry.

The difference is obvious: the foremilk is liquid, reminiscent of muddy water; back - thick and oily, creamy

In principle, the alveoli contain one type of milk - the same fatty, hind. It's just that while it flows down the ducts, it leaves some of the fat molecules behind. When the watery milk is sucked out, the fat separates from the walls of the ducts and in turn moves towards the nipple.

"Costs" of the female body for lactation

It takes energy to produce breast milk. Partial energy reserves are made during pregnancy; with the onset of lactation, stored fats have to be burned.

Scientists have found that 500 calories are consumed daily for the production of mother's milk. So that the body does not weaken, a nursing mother should eat right, not overeating, but not limiting the intake of products necessary for the body. So:

• during lactation, a woman needs to consume at least 2700 calories every day; this is 500 calories more than the average girl of childbearing age needs;
• it is better to sit down at the table every 2-3 hours, put small portions on a plate; when the time appears, make an approximate menu for the day, taking into account the calorie content of the products;
• in order not to harm the health of the baby and not to increase the amount of fat in food, give up fried foods; the correct ways of heat treatment of products - stewing, boiling, baking.

Normally, a nursing mother produces up to 1300 ml of mature breast milk per day. The duration of lactation is different: from 5 months to 2 years. Depends on the individual characteristics of the organism.

The only way to increase milk production is to breastfeed your baby more often. It has been proven that bust size is not a decisive factor in successful feeding; the main thing is that the baby conscientiously empty the reservoir, then the hormone prolactin will take care of its filling.

As for lactogenic tea and other drinks that the market offers, their benefits seem to be doubtful. Such drugs do not affect female sex hormones in any way, namely hormones are responsible for lactation. True, herbs such as fenugreek and basil contain plant estrogens that are similar in composition to female hormones, but the mechanism of their effect on lactation has not been elucidated.

They also say that the rush of breast milk is stimulated by drinking plenty of water - many nursing mothers claim to have experienced such an effect on themselves. However, this fact has not been scientifically confirmed either, because if there is really little milk, it will not appear from the water.

Milk in the female breast is not formed immediately - the process begins during pregnancy and continues for another 2-3 months after childbirth. These days, feeling a lack of milk, a nursing mother should not panic: a delicate mechanism may fail, but the problem is temporary. Having understood how the "dairy kitchen" is arranged, easily remove the obstacles; give the breast to the baby on demand, and not according to the schedule, as our grandmothers did - and the milk will return. When feeding finally gets better, you will feel relieved and have a lot of fun.

A professional TV journalist, for many years she worked as a special correspondent and commentator on federal TV channels (All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, TVC). Author of documentaries. I have awards, including state ones. AT last years- editor-in-chief of the private TV company PUL.

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What is the composition of breast milk? How is it formed and updated? What are the features of the anterior and posterior “product”, primary and mature? What affects its taste, fat content, intensity of production? The main questions about the main product in the life of a newborn baby.

Decades ago, breast milk was disparagingly referred to as “the nourishing fluid flowing from the female breast.” Today, after numerous studies conducted in this area, it is respectfully referred to as "white gold". There has been a drastic change public opinion about the product. And this is due to its proven uniqueness.

Breast milk is absolutely not similar to what a person receives from cows, goats. Its composition is much closer to the composition of blood, and the combination of valuable substances cannot be repeated by any breast milk substitute. The reason for this is the impossibility of artificially reproducing a complex of more than 500 elements, which is in constant "movement", invariably changing in the female breast. For comparison, the maximum amount of "usefulness" that a person has managed to put into an artificial mixture is only 50 elements.

Unique complex of proteins, fats, carbohydrates

World Organization health advises to start breastfeeding in the first minutes after the birth of the baby. by the international community it is recognized that it is the best food for every child, regardless of the individual characteristics of his body.

Until the age of six months, it covers 100% of the energy and nutritional needs of an infant. After six months, "white gold" is able to satisfy half of the daily requirement. After a year, the baby can receive from it up to 1/3 of everything necessary for healthy development. But this does not mean that breast milk becomes "empty". According to experts international organization La Leche Liga, by continuing breastfeeding as long as possible, you transfer useful substances to the child's body in an easily accessible form, which strengthen his immunity, exclude the development of allergic reactions, mental defects, and physiological disorders.

The best age to stop breastfeeding naturally is 2 years. A woman can breastfeed for longer if it does not cause her any inconvenience. AT early age the need for breastfeeding is defined as follows: up to 6 months - vital; up to 1 year - very important; up to 1.5 years - preferably.

Table - Chemical composition human milk during different periods of lactation

Component	Colostrum (1-5th day)	transitional milk (6th-14th day)	mature milk (from day 15)
Protein, g	2,3	1,6	1,1
Fat, g	2,6	3,5	4,5
Lactose, g	5,7	6,4	6,8
Energy value, kcal	67,0	73,0	75,0
Vitamin A, mg	0,16	0,09	0,06
Carotenoids, mg	0,14	0,04	0,02
Vitamin E, mg	1,5	0,9	0,2
Sodium, mg	50,0	30,0	17,0
Potassium, mg	74,0	64,0	50,0
Calcium, mg	48,0	46,0	34,0
Zinc, mg	1,2	3,8	5,6

Composition of primary and mature milk

Scientists have noticed that the composition of breast milk changes, like a living organism. Moreover, this process is practically not affected by the mother's diet, the intensity and frequency of her nutrition. It changes many times during the day, it can undergo changes even during one “meal” by the baby.

The most important factor that determines the composition of the product is the age of the child. It is depending on the age of the baby that the ratio of proteins, carbohydrates, and other elements in breast milk is determined.

Immediately after birth, the baby receives valuable colostrum, the volume of which is small, up to 30 g per feeding. Such a small amount of food is formed due to the limited water content in it. But this volume is enough for the baby, and he does not need water at all in the first three days after birth, so as not to create an overload on immature kidneys.

Unique properties of colostrum

• Abundance of immune factors and growth factors. A complex of substances that create "passive immunity" of a child up to two months of age, activating its growth and development.
• High calorie. It is much higher than in the mature "product", which allows you to cover the energy needs of the child's body, despite the small amount of colostrum.
• High protein. It reaches 15%, which is 3 times higher than in mature milk. Provides a balance of the baby's needs in "building materials" for the muscular and skeletal systems.

Under the influence of colostrum, the intestines of the child are freed from meconium - the primary feces. The need for frequent attachment of crumbs to the breast from the moment of birth is determined by the rule: the faster the body leaves the meconium, the less likely it is to develop jaundice in newborns, which occurs due to the bilirubin contained in it.

Approximately on the third day after the birth of the baby (sometimes on the fifth), "transitional" milk comes to replace the colostrum. It is more liquid, as it is saturated with water, and it contains significantly less protein. Its reduced volume is determined by the needs of the baby's body. During this period, he does not need to move, crawl and run, he does not need a strong muscular frame. And once in building material” there is no need for him, then the level of protein in breast milk decreases.

Unique properties of transitional milk

• High levels of sugars, fats. They are needed to help the body adapt to the conditions of the "outside world", to provide forces for growth and completion of the formation of tissues, internal organs.
• Increase in sugar levels. The product acquires transparency and a sweetish taste. Lactose in breast milk plays the role of not only a pleasant "sweetener". She is the main energy supplier for the baby, in an easily accessible form. Assimilated in the intestines, it is processed for the "needs" of physical activity by 40%, the rest is converted into substances necessary for the development of the brain and nervous system. A small amount of lactose remains unchanged and forms a "living" intestinal environment. The substance populates the intestines with beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus bifidus, which inhibit the growth of pathogenic flora.
• Complex HAMLET. Transitional milk contains a component that has antitumor properties. It was discovered by scientists only recently and was named the HAMLET complex. It consists of two components: whey protein and oleic acid. It has been proven that this intelligent system»programs the death of tumor cells, if they were formed in the body of a child during fetal development. There are scientific developments for the manufacture of anticancer drugs based on the HAMLET complex. And breastfeeding is the best prevention of the development of cancer in the baby.

Transitional milk is stored until the baby is two weeks old. In the future, it changes to mature and remains so, with certain adjustments, throughout the entire period of feeding. Speaking about the composition of the product, it means mature breast milk. Its composition is presented in the table.

A product defines several main components.

• Water. It forms the basis of the baby's food with valuable substances dissolved in it. The structure of water differs from ordinary, drinking and boiled. It optimally affects the kidneys of the crumbs, without causing their overload.
• Carbohydrates, including lactose. They add sweetness and nutritional value to the product. They are energy suppliers, stimulate the development of the brain and nervous system. Since they are not completely processed by the body, they can be contained in the analysis of the baby's feces. It was previously believed that the presence of traces of lactose in the feces is one of the main symptoms of breast milk intolerance. Today, the approach to the problem is more complex, including the analysis of a number of related factors. And intolerance to breast milk is not the reason for the immediate weaning of the infant from the breast and in many cases is corrected by the way the infant is fed.
• Fats. The only component, the volume of which remains unchanged throughout the entire period of breastfeeding, is up to 4% of the composition of the product. Fats are necessary for the development of the brain and nervous system, form a healthy psyche, and are necessary for proper weight dynamics. However, the nature of the fats in breast milk is special. The main part of it is created by polyunsaturated fatty acids, and only a small part by saturated ones. Also, fats are one of the few components of breast milk, the characteristics of which are determined by the mother's diet. When a woman consumes saturated fats (fried foods, confectionery, pastries), the fat value of the product decreases, excessive milk viscosity may be observed, which leads to disruption of breastfeeding and an excess of dangerous fats in the child's diet.
• Squirrels. If you analyze breast milk at any of the "stages" of feeding, the level of proteins in it will always be unchanged - a little more than 1%, and neither the mother's illness nor her malnutrition can change it. This volume is sufficient for the formation of infant tissues, creating conditions for the active production of new cells and the growth of organs. However, proteins take part in other work as well. They build immunity, help the nervous system to mature, regulate the production of enzymes, and create the thinnest film on the surface of the intestine, through which gases that are invariably formed during nutrition at any age cannot pass. Thanks to this film, breastfed babies are almost never bothered by colic, while they cause anxiety and pain in artificial babies.

Breast milk contains many other components that cannot be artificially reproduced. Among them are vitamins, mineral salts, and in the optimal ratio, growth factors, more than 20 hormones, hydrolytic enzymes and immune factors.

Education process

The question of how breast milk is produced has been studied for decades. Back in the middle of the last century, it was believed that it appears at the moment of the beginning of feeding, during the period of the so-called high tides. Modern studies have shown a more complex physiology of lactation. It is based on the structure of the breast and the effects of hormones.

How breast milk is formed can be traced to a combination of three physiological factors.

• The structure of the chest. The mammary gland is not full-bodied. Inside it are lobes, between which there are numerous thin ducts. As they approach the nipple, they become thicker and pass into the lactiferous sinuses. At the other end of the ducts, cells responsible for the production of breast milk are formed. A bundle of such cells is called an alveolus. There are several million alveoli in the mammary gland.
• Prolactin. A hormone that stimulates the production of breast milk in the alveoli. It enters the bloodstream, and then into the mammary glands after the separation of the placenta at the signal of the brain. Even if breastfeeding has not started after childbirth, high concentrations of prolactin will be present in the breast for at least a month. If the baby is with his mother and she puts him to the breast, prolactin stimulates the accumulation of food in the alveoli, causing contraction of muscle fibers and the release of milk from the cells at the time of sucking. The maximum activity of prolactin is observed in the period of 3-8 hours in the morning. Therefore, with insufficient lactation, it is recommended to apply the baby to the breast as often as possible at this time.
• Oxytocin. This hormone is responsible for the work of muscle fibers that transport milk through the ducts to the nipples. It expands the lactiferous sinuses so that food for the baby can freely leave the breast. The work of oxytocin is felt by the "bursting" of the chest, and the best way activate the “oxytocin reflex”, when you don’t need to strain anything, and the milk itself runs in a uniform stream, - pick up the baby, caress him, attach him to the chest.

Throughout the period of feeding, the role of the main acting "elements" of this chain does not change. But a woman can experience different sensations. For example, after six weeks of feeding, the feeling of breast fullness comes less and less, and the mammary glands themselves do not just look swollen. This does not mean that there is less milk. But only that it has become enough - no more and no less than your child needs.

Breast milk production continues 24 hours a day. This conclusion was made by researchers at the University of Western Australia led by Professor Peter Hartmann. But the speed of this process is not constant. It depends on several factors.

What determines the rate of breast milk production

“The more empty the breast, the faster it fills with milk,” says Professor Peter Hartmann. - In studies, it was noted that in one woman in the emptied breast, the intensity of the tide was 40 ml / hour, and in the full - only 10 ml / hour. The speed did not depend on the synthesis of prolactin, because its level was the same for each breast. This allowed us to conclude that there is an inhibitor protein in breast milk. It stops the production of the product by the alveoli when the mammary gland is full, and they react worse to the action of prolactin.

In addition, milk cannot be collected in the mammary glands indefinitely. Each breast has its own capacity. According to Professor Hartmann, they measured the capacity of several women's breasts. And found that it differs significantly. The minimum was 80 ml, the maximum was 600 ml. Even the capacity of the mammary glands in one woman differed.

“It is interesting that, regardless of breast size, all women, without exception, were able to fully meet the nutritional needs of the child,” says Professor Hartmann. - Until the baby reaches six months, this factor did not have a decisive impact on the nature of lactation. After six months, the capacity of the breast decreases, its appearance returns to prenatal state. This process can cause natural premature termination of lactation.

4 popular line-up questions

Understanding the physiology of the mammary glands allows you to answer common questions about the composition and characteristics of breast milk.

What is the difference between foremilk and hindmilk

Visually, the anterior and hind breast milk differ in color and density. The first is liquid, with a slight blue, the second is saturated, cloudy. In fact, as such, there is no front or rear product. As it accumulates in the breast, uniform milk is divided into "components". The liquid flows forward to the nipple, which is why at the beginning of feeding the baby receives water, that is, he does not eat, but drinks.

Fatty components settle on the walls of the ducts, they are heavier, so they need effort - or sucking - to get out. The longer the baby suckles, the more fatty acids it receives. If you apply the baby to the breast often, a pronounced separation of milk into anterior and posterior does not occur.

How is breast milk renewed?

The question of how often breast milk is renewed can be answered - constantly. The process of its development does not stop for a minute. In the normal “on demand” breastfeeding regimen, it cannot stagnate. At the same time, its composition adapts to the needs of the child at different ages.

From about four months, it increases the level of calcium necessary to strengthen the bone skeleton. So the body is preparing to sit, and in the future - to walk. A little later, the amount of protein required to activate muscle development increases. AT different time the level of certain components changes. And this happens even in response to the momentary state of the baby. For example, if he experiences pain or discomfort, the content of the pain-relieving factor in breast milk increases. With the development of a disease in the mother (viral, intestinal), food for the baby is enriched with immune cells. And if the child himself is sick, the level of lysozyme and lactoferrin, natural antimicrobial elements, increases in it.

Interestingly, the level of lactoferrin (natural antibiotic) increases in the second year of a child's life. This indicates the adaptation of the product to the "adult" life of the baby and the benefits of continuing feeding after a year.

When asked how much breast milk is renewed, lactation consultants answer: every minute in order to meet the general and special needs of the child at a particular point in time.

What does taste depend on?

You can often hear the question why breast milk has become salty or, conversely, sweet. In fact, its taste does not change dramatically during the entire period of feeding. From neutral, present in colostrum, it transitions to sweet for mature foods. The presence of a salty taste indicates an increase in the level of mineral salts in it, which becomes a short-term manifestation of adaptation to the needs of the baby's body.

It is impossible to artificially change the taste of a product. There are no products other than garlic that can in any way correct its taste. Moreover, garlic changes not so much the taste as the smell. Therefore, the question of what breast milk tastes like cannot be answered unambiguously. Usually it is sweet, but depending on the needs of the child, its taste can be slightly adjusted by changing the composition.

How does breast milk allergy manifest?

The presence of an allergy to breast milk or its intolerance is determined by a comprehensive study of the child's condition. You can’t talk about it just because the baby has a grumbling in the tummy after feeding.

Symptoms of an allergy to breast milk:

• indigestion and irregular, painful green stools;
• frequent anxiety of the baby;
• loud sounds in the abdomen after feeding.

The main sign of intolerance to breast milk is the lack of weight by the baby, fixed on monthly control weighings.

But even if individual intolerance is detected, refusal to breastfeed is considered more dangerous for the baby than its continuation. Correction of the frequency of feedings in the direction of their increase is required. This achieves a decrease in the level of lactase at each meal, which, when taken in large volumes, may not be completely absorbed by the body, causing digestive disorders.

Breast milk is a product of unique value, "white gold", which every mother can give to her child. Not a single, even the most expensive and modern mixture can be compared with it. Therefore, the World Health Organization recommends mandatory maintenance of breastfeeding from the first minutes of a child's life up to two years or more.

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