Breast milk: The best nutrition for your baby

From the moment a woman gives birth, she starts worrying for her baby’s well-being and nutrition. This is why a new mommy goes the extra mile to learn every aspect of breastfeeding much before the baby is born. From learning the right latching techniques to figuring out the best possible foods to improve the quality of breast milk, she does it all. And why not? Considering breast milk is the baby’s first food and probably the only source of nutrition. If you are one such mom who constantly worries if her breast milk is sufficiently nutritious for her baby, then here is what you need to know.

What are the key components of breast milk?

The very first form of breast milk comes in small amounts and is rich in immune protective factors (macronutrients) as well as developmental factors (micronutrients). This ‘first milk’ is known as colostrum. Thereafter, 3 days after birth, the mother’s milk starts coming in and will continue to increase in quantity as well as change in composition to suit the growing baby’s needs.

The nutritional components of the breast milk, made in the milk-making breast cells, are almost entirely sourced either from the maternal fat stores (from extra pregnancy weight) or the mother’s diet.

What’s Found In Breast Milk?

1. Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates account for approximately 40% of the total calories found in breast milk and help promote the growth of healthy bacteria in your baby’s gut. The main carbohydrate found in breast milk is lactose which helps your baby absorb more calcium and minerals. ³,⁴

2. Proteins

During childbirth, breast milk contains 14 to 16 g/L of protein that slowly decreases to 8 to 10 g/L in 3-4 months and 7 to 8 g/L after 6 months. It contains two types of proteins (whey and casein), which are important for your little one’s growth and development. In breast milk, whey is found in higher amounts during early lactation and is easily digested by babies. Casein, on the other hand, is the main source of calcium and phosphate. Furthermore, there are various other proteins that are necessary for your baby’s health such as:³,⁴

• Secretory Immunoglobulin A (sIgA) - sIgA contributes to about 80–90% of the total immunoglobulins (antibodies that fight off diseases) in breast milk. And approximately 0.5 to 1 g per day of this protein is consumed by babies who are exclusively breastfed. It protects your baby by preventing the entry of microorganisms into the body.
• Lactoferrin - It is an antimicrobial compound and inhibits the growth of iron-dependent bacteria. Lactoferrin along with sIgA accounts for  26% of the protein in breast milk.
• Lysozyme - This enzyme protects your baby against harmful bacteria and is also seen to have an antiviral effect.
• α-Lactalbumin - It is essential for the biosynthesis of lactose (milk production) and also facilitates the absorption of calcium and zinc.

3. Fats

Fats are the most important component of breast milk, which account for almost 50% of a baby’s nutritional supply. The fat in breast milk helps in the growth and development of the baby’s central nervous system.

Omega-3 fatty acid is one of the many essential fatty acids and an important component of breast milk. The active forms of omega-3 fatty acids are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which offer immense health benefits to the baby.

But, the most important form is DHA which accounts for about 97% of all omega-3 fats in the brain and 93% in the retina. It is crucial for a newborn's brain and eye development from the third trimester of pregnancy and upto 18 months after birth. However, the good news is that, with a simple DHA test, pregnant and lactating mothers can measure their DHA levels quickly!

4. Vitamins And Minerals

Breast milk also contains vitamins and minerals such as potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, calcium, and chlorine. However, the presence of iron and zinc in breast milk is low, but their absorption and bioavailability are high.

What are the micro and macronutrients in breast milk?

The macronutrients in breast milk are made up of carbohydrates, protein, and fat. The proteins include lactoferrin, secretory immunoglobulin IgA, casein, and other such proteins. The major carbohydrate component in breast milk is lactose along with oligosaccharides. Fats in breast milk is a highly variable macronutrient (more about them discussed in the next section). The micronutrients in breast milk consist of vitamins such as vitamin B12, Vitamin D, minerals, and iodine. The micronutrients are also made up of a variety of bioactive factors (antibodies, growth factors, hormones) and anti-infective factors that safeguard the baby from inflammations and infections.

As mentioned earlier, these nutritional components of breast milk are mostly sourced from the mother’s diet aside from maternal fat reserves. Thus, a lactating mother’s diet plays a major role in improving the quality of milk.

Breast milk and brain development

Breast milk contains fats that are essential for the health and growth of the baby. The fat content in breast milk is the primary source of calories. It is essential for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins in the baby. The long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid in breast milk, also known as DHA, is a necessary component for the development of the retina, brain, and the nervous system of the baby . In fact, DHA makes up 97% of the omega-3 fatty acids found in the brain and 25% of the brain’s total fat content .

The amount of DHA present in the breast milk is directly dependent on a lactating mother’s diet. The more a breastfeeding mother consumes long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (DHA), the higher the proportions of those fats in her breast milk .

Breast milk and Immunity

At the time of birth, the baby’s immune system is very weak. The micronutrient components of breast milk are made up of bioactive and anti-infective factors along with vitamins, minerals, and iodine. The bioactive factors contain, among other things, antibodies that help improve the baby’s immunity. For instance, if a lactating mother catches an infection and develops antibodies to fight the infection, she will ultimately pass on those antibodies to the baby too. The anti-infective factors in breast milk contain a vast number of living cells including white blood cells and stem cells that might help in healing inflammations and prevent infections. Another major anti-infective factor is the secretory immunoglobulin IgA antibody, which is present in the breast milk in abundance. This, along with other anti-infective breast milk proteins such as lysozyme and lactoferrin, protect the baby from infections and boost immunity.

Can you get your breast milk tested?

It is quite natural for breastfeeding moms to fret about the quality of the milk. Most would have even wondered at such times if there was some kind of a test to check for the quality of their breast milk. However, not many new moms are aware that breast milk can be tested for its quality and content. One such breakthrough breast milk test is LifeCell Diagnostics' OmegaScore-N. By now, we are aware of the importance of DHA in breast milk. Its optimal presence can make a huge difference to your baby’s overall health and brain development. If you wish to check the level of DHA in your breast milk, then the OmegaScore-N test helps you know precisely that!

Breast Milk: Ideal Food For The Baby?

Breast milk is packed with all the essential vitamins & minerals that your baby needs to grow!⁴ It is composed of many essential substances for optimal development, including carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. The bioactive functions of the proteins in breast milk are especially important during critical periods of brain, gut, and immune development.⁵ As a result, breastfed babies have lower rates of ear infections as well as respiratory and intestinal infections.⁶

Let’s talk about one essential component of breast milk- Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid!

DHA plays a vital role in a baby’s overall health, including eye development, nervous system and most importantly cognitive development.⁷ For this reason, infants require a sufficient and constant intake of DHA as the brain continues to develop.⁸ Therefore, it is strongly recommended for lactating mothers to monitor their breast milk DHA levels in order to ensure their baby receives sufficient nutrition. 

Many of you must be wondering if there was a way to detect the DHA level in your breast milk. And rightly so!

Well, the answer is- Yes! You can now easily track the DHA level in your breast milk with LifeCell’s OmegaScore-N! It is an easy-to-use self-collection kit. All you have to do is add a few drops of your breast milk on the collection card and schedule a sample pickup. Our executive will collect the kit box from your doorstep and deliver it safely to the lab for testing. You will soon receive a digital report with all the important insights about your breast milk’s DHA level!

Based on the results, you can modify your diet by including foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. This is because breast milk’s nutritional value is mostly derived from the lactating mother’s diet.⁹

How can you enrich the nutritive value of breast milk

As discussed earlier, breast milk’s nutritional components are mostly derived from the lactating mother’s diet. Therefore, it is quite possible to enrich the nutritive value of your breast milk by adjusting your diet accordingly.

For starters, a breast milk test like LifeCell Diagnostics' OmegaScore-N helps you get a clear picture of your breast milk’s DHA content. Thereafter, you can draw up a diet plan where you can add foods that are rich in omega 3 fatty acids. Foods such as dairy products, seafood, and pastured eggs provide sufficient amounts of omega 3 fatty acids. If you are a vegetarian or a vegan, you can always check with your doctor and either add DHA-rich food items or go for DHA supplements. Follow this new diet plan for four weeks and then take a OmegaScore-N re-test. This will help you know if you are on the right track.

Breast milk is often referred to as nature’s gift to the newborn. It is not only your baby’s first food but also the best source of nutrition for the little one. And, if you wish to know or improve the quality of your breast milk, then you can always check with LifeCell Diagnostics’ OmegaScore-N. Afterall, your baby deserves nothing but the best!

LifeCell Diagnostics OmegaScore-N is a very simple, hassle-free test of breast milk which provides you quick results as well. All you need to do is provide a dab of breast milk on the test kit that is provided and mail to the LifeCell laboratory. You’ll get the results within 7 days!

To know more call- 1800 266 5533 or SMS DIAGNOSTICS to 53456.