Breast milk

and Sabine Schrör, medical journalist Updated on

Nicole Wendler holds a PhD in biology in the field of oncology and immunology.As a medical editor, author and proofreader, she works for various publishers, for whom she presents complex and extensive medical issues in a simple, concise and logical manner.

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Sabine Schrör is a freelance writer for the medical team. She studied business administration and public relations in Cologne. As a freelance editor, she has been at home in a wide variety of industries for more than 15 years. Health is one of her favorite subjects.

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Mother's milk is ideally matched to the baby by nature. It adapts to the needs of the baby within the first few days after birth and changes during the breastfeeding period. Find out here how it is created, which ingredients make breast milk so valuable and why bacteria in milk are even important.

How is breast milk made?

The production and release (secretion) of breast milk is called lactation. The mammary glands take over this task. The hormones estrogen, progesterone, human placental lactogen (HPL) and prolactin prepare the breast for breastfeeding during pregnancy.

However, milk production does not start until after the birth, when the placenta rejects the estrogen and progesterone values rapidly and the prolactin level rises.

In addition to the right hormones at the right time, regular suction is required to activate the flow of milk. Because only with regular application of the baby to the breast and vigorous sucking on the nipples does the body continue to release prolactin so that production does not stop. In addition, the "cuddle hormone" oxytocin stimulates cells of the milk-producing glands - the cells contract and press the milk into the milk ducts.

The first milk, the so-called colostrum, is available immediately after the birth. This first breast milk is yellow and thick and nourishes the newborn for the first three to five days. With the subsequent milk infiltration, the production of a transitional milk starts, which is replaced by the mature breast milk around 15 days after the birth. It is significantly lighter and thinner than the foremilk and can take care of the child for a long time.

Breast milk: composition

In addition to water, breast milk contains:

Milk sugar (lactose)
carbohydrates
Proteins
Fats
Vitamins
Minerals
Carboxylic acid
Hormones
Enzymes
Growth factors
maternal immune cells

In the course of breastfeeding, not only the color and consistency changes, but also the composition: Breast milk contains slightly less protein and less lactose, but more calories and a higher fat content than the first milk produced. However, the concentrations also fluctuate within a breastfeeding meal: With the first sips, the infant receives predominantly proteins, minerals and vitamins and only later receives high-fat, high-energy milk.

The high proportion of immune cells (see also the next section) makes breast milk and colostrum particularly valuable for the child: the maternal immune cells protect it from infections.

Breast milk: substances beneficial to health

In addition to vitamins and nutrients, breast milk has the following important immune-promoting components:

Immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM, IgD)
white blood cells (leukocytes), including neutrophils, eosinophils and monocytes or macrophages resulting therefrom (as "scavenger cells" = phagocytes) and lymphocytes
Complement system: system of various plasma proteins that can eliminate infectious agents
Lysozyme: Enzyme that can break down bacterial cell membranes
Lactoferrin: protein that can bind iron so that bacteria can no longer use it for growth
Lactoperoxidase
Fibronectin: against inflammation
Glycoproteins: prevent bacteria and viruses from attaching
Oligosaccharides
antimicrobial substances

A current study was able to demonstrate another important active ingredient in breast milk: glycerol monolaureate (GML) has an anti-inflammatory effect, can differentiate between beneficial and harmful bacteria and specifically combat the latter.

The active ingredient GML can also be produced quite easily and inexpensively. Experts assume that manufacturers of artificial baby milk incorporate it into their products.

Breast milk is healthy!

Not only physical closeness, security and skin contact when breastfeeding have a positive effect on the child, but also the ingredients of breast milk: They make breast milk an unsurpassed health cocktail. This can be seen in breastfed babies compared to children who did not enjoy breast milk. Because breastfeeding ...

delays the time until the first infection of the child
supports the child's immune system
reduces the risk of allergies in the child
strengthens the child's intestinal flora

Immune competent cells, growth factors and oligosaccharides inhibit inflammation, strengthen the baby's still sensitive intestinal mucosa and prevent pathogens from binding to the mucous membranes. But not only germs in the stomach and intestines are combated, breast milk also protects against pathogens from the environment.

In addition, the ingredients in breast milk support the child's immune system during maturation: Without any loss of time, it is supplied with defense substances (antibodies = immunoglobulins) against diseases such as measles, whooping cough or chickenpox, which would have serious consequences for non-vaccinated infants.

Colostrum wonder drug

In terms of infection protection, colostrum is even somewhat superior to breast milk. No other body fluid contains such high amounts of immunoglobulin A (IgA, over 1200 mg / dl), one of the most important antibodies. IgA helps fight off bacteria and viruses. There is also plenty of IgM and IgG (around 60 mg / dl and 10 mg / dl) in the yellowish foremilk. However, there is still a lot of IgA in breast milk at around 100 mg / dl, in addition to IgM (around 14-34 mg / dl) and IgG (around 5-8 mg / dl).

Bacteria in breast milk

There are also some bacteria in breast milk. They help the child with digestion and also protect against diseases. A recent study by Canadian, Iranian and Israeli researchers shows that breast milk supports the baby in developing a healthy intestinal flora: Certain bacteria have been detected in the mother's milk and in the stool of breastfed infants - this connection was particularly common in infants breastfed directly observed.

In addition, there are lactic acid bacteria such as Lactobacillus salivarius and Lactobacillus gasseri. They not only protect the intestinal mucosa and strengthen the intestinal barrier in the child, but can also help with breast inflammation (mastitis) if the mother takes them. Attempts are currently being made to use probiotic substances to optimize the bacteria in breast milk so that they can unfold their best effect.

Cow's milk is not a substitute!

If you cannot or do not want to breastfeed, cow's milk is not a suitable substitute for breast milk. Calories and fat content are comparable, but the high protein content can cause problems for babies: Cow's milk contains almost three times as much protein and minerals as breast milk. The child's body would have to excrete this excess with plenty of water, which harbors the risk of drying out (dehydration). In addition, cow's milk does not protect against disease.

So do not make a substitute milk yourself, but use industrially produced baby food!

Comparison of foremilk, breast milk and cow's milk

	Protein (g / dl)	Fat (g / dl)	Lactose (g / dl)	Calories (kcal / 100ml)
Colostrum	1,8	3,0	6,5	65
Ripe breast milk	1,3	4,0	6,0	70
Cow's milk	3,5	4,0	4,5	70

Does breast milk have any disadvantages?

Despite the many benefits of breastfeeding & breast milk, this natural diet is not necessarily best for every baby. Sometimes breastfeeding also has health disadvantages and can be detrimental to some newborns. This applies, among other things, to premature children who are not yet strong enough to suckle, but also to children of diabetic mothers or sick children. Bottle feeding can therefore be beneficial if ...

the baby loses too much weight after birth,
the mother could pass infections on to the child (e.g. cytomegaly, hepatitis, tuberculosis),
the child has had jaundice in the newborn for a longer period of time (jaundice),
the child is insufficiently supplied with vitamin D, K, B12 and / or iodine,
the breast milk is heavily contaminated by environmental pollutants (see below), alcohol, nicotine or medication.

Pollutants in breast milk

The color, composition and taste of breast milk are variable and depend on external factors and foods that the mother consumes. Some of what the mother ingests goes unfiltered into the breast milk and thus reaches the baby. This is not always healthy, as is the case with alcohol, nicotine, drugs, some medications, environmental toxins and other pollutants.

Competitive sport or a new pregnancy can also change breast milk. In principle, this is not harmful to the baby. Sometimes he just doesn't like it at first. However, it is important that the mother does not lose too much weight while breastfeeding. Otherwise, more pollutants will be released from maternal adipose tissue (such as dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls = PCB, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane = DDT) and get into breast milk - to the detriment of the breastfed child.

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