Breast milk is normally the baby’s first food, being a food rich in fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and antibodies that guarantee the child’s healthy growth and development.
However, breastfeeding is a delicate moment for the mother, as it can end up bringing some fears, such as the fear of the milk drying out, being too little or being weak for the baby. To answer these questions, we have separated and answered the most common questions about breast milk.
Learn more about the composition of breast milk, how to store it and how to breastfeed correctly with some tips for beginners.
1. What is the composition of breast milk?
Breast milk is rich in fats, proteins and carbohydrates, some of the most important nutrients for a baby’s growth and development. Furthermore, breast milk also has good amounts of antibodies that strengthen the baby’s immune system.
As the baby grows, breast milk changes, going through 3 main phases:
- Colostrum: it is the first milk produced by women and has a yellowish color, being richer in proteins and antibodies;
- Transitional milk: appears after 1 week and is richer in fats and carbohydrates than colostrum, and is therefore thicker;
- Mature milk: appears after approximately 21 days and contains fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, proteins and antibodies.
Due to the presence of antibodies, breast milk works to strengthen the baby’s immune system against various types of infections. Discover other benefits of breast milk for the baby’s health.
The following table contains the composition of mature breast milk:
It is important to remember that the amounts of nutrients present in breast milk vary according to each phase of this food.
2. Is there weak breast milk for the baby?
There is no such thing as weak breast milk, as it is a food that contains all the nutrients necessary for the baby’s growth and development at each stage of its life.
The size of the breast does not influence the amount of milk produced, with large or small breasts having the same capacity to correctly feed the baby. The main precautions for good milk production are to maintain a balanced and varied diet, drink plenty of water and breastfeed whenever the baby wants.
3. Does breast milk contain lactose?
Breast milk contains lactose, as it is the main carbohydrate for the development of the baby’s brain. However, women who consume a lot of milk, yogurt or cheese may have a higher lactose content in the milk they produce.
The lactose present in breast milk generally does not affect the baby, because the baby normally produces large amounts of lactase, which is the enzyme responsible for degrading lactose. Therefore, it is very rare for a baby to have any type of intolerance to its mother’s milk.
4. How to increase milk production?
The best way to increase milk production is to maintain a healthy diet, prioritizing the consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains. In addition, it is also recommended to drink 3 to 4 liters of fluids per day.
The baby’s sucking movement on the breasts also stimulates milk production and, therefore, you should breastfeed whenever the baby is hungry. Check out other tips for increasing breast milk production.
5. How to store milk?
Breast milk can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer, but it must be placed in special containers sold in pharmacies or in sterilized glass containers with tight-fitting lids and labels to identify the food.
Breast milk can be stored at room temperature (up to 25 ºC) for up to 4 hours. In the refrigerator, milk can be stored at a temperature of 4º C for up to 4 days, but it cannot be placed in the door. In the freezer, breast milk should be stored at a temperature of up to -18ºC, for up to 6 months and should not be left on the door.
It is recommended to always store breast milk in small portions, preferably in the amount that the baby consumes, to avoid waste.
6. How to thaw breast milk?
To defrost breast milk, slow defrosting should be preferred, so the ideal is to place the frozen milk in the refrigerator and let it defrost completely, which usually takes around 12 hours.
Then, just remove the milk from the refrigerator and let it warm at room temperature before giving it to the baby. If necessary, the milk can also be warmed by leaving the container in a pot of warm water or running warm water around the outside of the container.
It is not recommended to heat the milk directly in the pan or in the microwave as it can destroy the nutrients, and this type of heating is not uniform and can cause burns in the baby’s mouth.
It is recommended to defrost only the necessary amount of breast milk, as this food cannot be refrozen. Additionally, after fully thawing, breast milk can be stored at room temperature and consumed within 2 hours. Once in the refrigerator, defrosted milk can be stored for up to 24 hours.
7. Can milk be stored after heating?
Warmed breast milk can be consumed by the baby within a period of up to 2 hours. After this period, breast milk must be discarded to avoid the risk of contamination of this food.
8. How to express milk with a pump?
Expressing milk with a pump can be a somewhat time-consuming process, especially the first time. Before using the pump, you must wash your hands well and find a calm and comfortable place. Then, place the opening of the pump over the breast, ensuring that the nipple is centered.
Afterwards, you should start by pressing the pump slowly, with gentle movements and then increase the intensity, according to your comfort level.
9. Is it possible to donate breast milk?
Breast milk can be donated to the Human Milk Bank, an organization that delivers milk to hospital ICUs where newborns who cannot be breastfed by their mothers are hospitalized.
Furthermore, this milk can also be donated to mothers who do not have enough milk and who do not want to give infant formula to their babies. Find out how breast milk donation works.
10. When to stop giving breast milk?
Ideally, exclusive breast milk feeding should be done until 6 months of age, without the need for any other type of food or formula. After this period, the World Health Organization recommends maintaining breast milk until at least 2 years of age, in smaller quantities and with other foods.
However, in some situations where breastfeeding is not indicated, the pediatrician may recommend the use of an infant formula.
The introduction of new foods into the baby’s diet should start from 6 months onwards, offering porridge made with cereals or tubers, fresh vegetables, proteins and beans, for lunch or dinner, and fresh fruit porridge for small meals. Find out more about how to introduce foods into your baby’s diet.
11. Is it possible to dry milk?
In some situations, the obstetrician may recommend the woman to dry the milk, such as when the baby has a health problem that interferes with the intake of breast milk or when the mother has a disease that can be transmitted through milk, as happens in women with HIV, for example. Check out other situations where a woman cannot breastfeed.
However, in all other situations it is very important to maintain milk production, to offer the best possible food to the baby.
In cases where the doctor recommends drying the milk, medications can generally be prescribed, such as bromocriptine or lisuride, which gradually reduce the amount of milk produced. See other remedies and also some natural options for drying up milk.
