From birth, babies are nourished with breast milk or formula. Breastfeeding is a beautiful adventure to experience with your little one, offering numerous benefits to both baby and mother.
Breastfeeding
During pregnancy, before becoming a mother, a question must be asked: Will you breastfeed your baby or not?
Breastfeeding is the best way to feed a baby from birth. However, the choice to breastfeed belongs solely to the mother . Every expectant mother is free to breastfeed or not. Of course, there are alternatives to breastfeeding, such as infant formulas adapted to a baby's nutritional needs.
The composition of breast milk
For the first 3 to 4 days of life , the baby will be fed with the first breast milk: colostrum . It is mainly composed of fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and proteins. Unlike breast milk, which is more than 80% water, colostrum does not contain much water.
After the first four days , colostrum is gradually replaced by breast milk . We can say that breast milk is very complete . Indeed, it is composed of vitamins, minerals, trace elements, calories, fatty acids, phospholipids, proteins, sugars, water, etc.
A comparison with cow's milk helps to better understand the composition of breast milk. Breast milk is much richer in lipids than cow's milk. However, in order to best meet the baby's needs, breast milk contains up to six times less protein , salt , and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and chloride. And most surprisingly, breast milk is the richest in lactose !
The nutritional elements change during breastfeeding in order to sensitize the baby to feelings of satiety .
Throughout breastfeeding, the composition of breast milk is able to adapt in order to perfectly meet the nutritional needs of the baby.
The benefits of breast milk for babies
Colostrum, the first milk, plays a role in the development of the baby's intestinal flora, facilitates digestion , and helps with the expulsion of meconium antioxidant and anti-infective properties to protect the baby during its transition from a sterile environment to life outside the womb.
The excellent composition of breast milk will allow the baby to grow well while being protected from digestive, urinary, pulmonary, meningeal and ENT infections.
The proteins in breast milk play a role in your little one's immune defenses
The lactose in breast milk provides your baby with 40% of the energy they need to get through the day. It also helps diaper rash and irritation prevents the growth of harmful bacteria by lowering the pH of the intestinal contents. This nutrient is also essential for the healthy development of your little one's brain
Fatty acids are essential nutrients for physical , cardiovascular , and cognitive development , fat globules contribute to the proper intestinal absorption of fats and minerals.
Cholesterol plays a role in the formation of nerve tissue and promotes the creation of enzymes .
The benefits of breastfeeding for the mother
Did you know? It's not just the baby who benefits from breastfeeding. In fact, this special adventure shared with baby offers some advantages to all mothers .
Breastfeeding helps the uterus return to its normal size and reduces the risk of infection after childbirth . It's also an excellent way to lower the risk of breast cancer before menopause. But that's not all! This breastfeeding journey with your baby helps with weight loss .
On a practical level, we can say that breast milk is available everywhere, at any time of day, and at the right temperature. This makes it easy to meet a baby's needs.
Breast milk provides all the nutrients a baby needs to grow day by day. But that's not all! Breastfeeding also offers the mother some incredible benefits.
Photo: © Moon and the other
