The Miracle of Mother’s Milk
There is no more perfect food for a human infant than its mother’s milk. A cow makes the perfect food for a growing calf. A goat makes the perfect food for a growing kid and a horse makes the perfect food for a growing colt. Each baby has different needs and growth expectancies – each mother makes the perfect formula to help meet those needs. So, how does human milk differ from other animals?
This chart helps us to see some of the obvious differences between the contents of human milk and other animals, but what it can’t show are some of the many benefits of human breast milk that scientists are just now beginning to understand. The most abundant ingredient in breast milk is water. One of the amazing things about this is that when a baby first begins to nurse, the milk is extremely watery in order to quench the baby’s thirst. As they continue to nurse, the milk thickens to satisfy their hunger. It actually changes in consistency – something man has never been able to duplicate.
There are three stages of breast milk – each stage creates a different type of milk and during each stage, the milk can vary greatly depending on the needs of the infant. The stages are:
Colostrum
This is the milk created during the first three or four days after birth. It contains a higher amount of protein, less fat and a large number of immunizing factors for the newborn
Transitional Milk
This is the milk which is produced to take the infant from colostrum to mature milk. This period helps to establish milk production. This milk is produced from approximately day 8 to day 20.
Mature Milk
This is the milk your baby will have from about day 20 until you are finished nursing. This milk contains a much higher fat content along with immune factors and gut bacteria to help in developing your baby’s digestive/immune system.
One of the incredible miracles of breast milk is how it is constantly changing – even during a single feeding. If your baby is getting sick from a virus it has come in contact with – the baby’s saliva will mix with the milk and signal the mother’s body to start producing antibodies against the virus the baby is fighting. The mother’s breast milk will then start providing the baby with what he/she needs to overcome the virus. Because of the incredible benefits of breast-feeding, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that breast milk continue to be part of an infant’s diet up until the age of 2 years.
What are some of the steps mothers can take to help insure a healthy milk supply?
Stay hydrated – drinking plenty of fresh, pure water throughout the day will help your body to produce more milk
Eat a nutritious, well-balanced diet
Use supplements to help insure you are getting all of the nutrients you and your baby need.
Nurse often – it is important to feed on demand and to make sure your baby is nursing on both sides
Use lactogenic foods to help increase your supply
Whole grains such as oats – this is a good source of fiber which can also give you a burst of energy
Red/orange root vegetables like sweet potatoes
Brewers Yeast – this can be added to smoothies to help increase energy and milk production. This is often used to help fight ‘baby blues’.
Avocados
Nuts
Green, leafy vegetables such as spinach and beet greens
Seeds – pumpkin, flax, chia, hemp
Fresh fruits – especially the ones in season
Lactation Cookies
Many women notice that when they begin nursing a baby, they find they are always hungry – more than they have ever been before. This is because your body has to support your nutritional needs and the needs of your baby through your breast milk. Lactation cookies can be a fun way to snack on something made from foods which have been historically used to increase breast milk.
There are also a number of herbs which have been used to help increase milk supply:
Fenugreek – this herb is known to work quickly in helping to stimulate milk production*
Blessed Thistle – this is a bitter herb and is often combined with Red Raspberry Leaf tea to help increase milk production*
Fennel – this herbs comes from the Mediterranean and was used historically to help increase a mothers milk supply*
Alfalfa – this herb is full of minerals and helps to make a nutritious milk supply*
Other things you can do to help increase your milk supply is to make sure you are getting enough rest – this can become more difficult if you have multiple children but is extremely important when you are trying to nurse. When you don’t get enough rest, your body has to decide where to spend its energy – is it going to keep you going or is it going to make milk for your baby?
Other factors which can reduce your milk are:
Smoking
Allergy medications – especially if it contains pseudoephedrine
Wearing a bra that is too tight
This is such a precious time and it flies by way too fast. Make sure you are stopping whatever you are doing – sit down in a quiet, peaceful place to enjoy this incredible time with you baby.
Abraham Lincoln once said, “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world”. He was so right! Mothers everywhere are to be honored for their sacrifice and dedication to these precious souls – may God bless you in the selfless acts of motherhood.