Breast milk is often the baby’s first food and is therefore a highly nutritious substance that helps ensure healthy growth and development, being high in fats, carbohydrates, various types of vitamins and antibodies.
However, breastfeeding is a delicate moment in the life of both mother and baby, which can end up creating several fears, such as the fear of milk dry, either very little or very weak for the baby. To clear these doubts, we separate and answer the 10 most common questions about breast milk.
- For more information on breast milk and how to breastfeed properly.
- See our comprehensive breastfeeding guide for beginners.
Breast milk is high in fat, protein and carbohydrates, as it is one of the most important nutrients for the growth and development of the baby. However, it also contains a good amount of proteins and antibodies, which help maintain health and strengthen the immune system.
As the baby grows, breast milk changes and goes through three main phases:
Due to the presence of antibodies, breast milk functions as a natural vaccine, strengthening the baby’s immune system against various types of infections. This is one of the main reasons why breast milk should be preferred to the right milk in pharmacies, for example. See a complete list of breast milk components and their quantities.
Breast milk contains all the nutrients needed for the baby’s growth and development at every stage of life, even in thin women.
Breast size also does not affect the amount of milk produced, as large or small breasts have the same ability to properly feed the baby. The main treatment for good milk production is to eat well, drink plenty of water and breastfeed when the baby wants.
Breast milk contains lactose because it is the main carbohydrate for the development of the baby’s brain. However, women who consume many dairy products or milk may have a higher lactose composition in the milk they produce. Although the composition of milk varies over time, the amount of lactose remains similar from the beginning to the end of the lactation phase.
Although lactose causes several intolerance reactions in children and adults, it does not usually affect the baby because at birth it produces a large amount of lactase, which is the enzyme responsible for the degradation of lactose. Therefore, it is quite rare for the baby to have some type of breast milk allergy. See when your baby may be allergic to breast milk and what the symptoms are.
The best way to ensure proper milk production is to eat a balanced diet and drink 3 to 4 liters of fluids a day. A good example of eating at this stage should include eating lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
In addition, the baby’s suction movement over the chest also stimulates milk production and, as a result, it is necessary to breastfeed so many times a day, which can be 10 times or more. Discover 5 effective tips for increasing breast milk production.
Breast milk can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer, but should be placed in containers sold at the pharmacy or in a sterilized glass container with a plastic lid. In the refrigerator, milk can be stored for up to 48 hours, as long as it is not placed on the door, and in the freezer for up to 3 months. Learn more about how you can store breast milk.
To defrost breast milk, place the container in a pot of warm water and gradually heat it on the stove. It is not recommended to heat the milk directly in the pan or microwave as this can destroy the protein, in addition to not heating the milk evenly, which can end up causing burns in the baby’s mouth.
Ideally, only the amount of milk needed should be defrosted, as the milk cannot be re-frozen. However, if excess milk is thawed, you should put what’s left in the refrigerator and use it within 24 hours.
Removing milk with a milk extractor may take a little time, especially the first few times. Before using the pump, wash your hands and find a quiet and comfortable place. The pump opening should then be placed in the breast, making sure the nipple is centered.
At first, you should start slowly pressing the pump, with gentle movements, as if the baby is breastfeeding, then increase the intensity, depending on the level of comfort.
Check the step by step to extract the milk and when is the best time to remove it.
Breast milk can be donated to Human Milk Bank, an organization that delivers milk to ICU hospitals where newborns who cannot be breastfed by their mothers enter. In addition, this milk can also be given to mothers who do not have enough milk and who do not wish to give away a bottle with milk adapted from the pharmacy.
Ideally, exclusive breastfeeding should be practiced until 6 months of age, without requiring any other type of food or preparation. After this period, WHO recommends that breast milk is kept for up to 2 years, in smaller amounts, and with other foods. The introduction of new foods should begin with foods with more neutral flavor and presented in the form of porridge, with the use of sweet potatoes, carrots, rice and bananas. Learn more about presenting food to your baby.
Because some women may have breastfeeding problems or decreased milk production, in some cases, the pediatrician or obstetrician may recommend discontinuation of breastfeeding with the use of appropriate milk from the pharmacy.
In some situations, the obstetrician may advise a woman to dry milk, for example when the baby has a problem that prevents milk or when the mother has a disease that can pass through milk, such as HIV-positive women, for example. . Check a list of cases where a woman should not breastfeed. However, in all other situations, it is very important to maintain milk production to provide the best possible food to the baby.
In cases where your doctor recommends drying milk, medications such as bromocriptine or lisurid are usually prescribed, which will gradually decrease the amount of milk produced, but which can also cause various side effects such as vomiting, nausea, headache or drowsiness. See what other medications can be used and also some natural options for drying milk.