Breast milk, as we all know, is nature’s best compliment to children through mothers. A lot of research has been done to know the composition of breast milk, changes during the period, and how to ensure the supply of this golden milk till the requirement of the baby.

This amazing breast milk is the overflow of love for her child, a glance or stare & subsequent latching ensure the flow. It is well-known fact that breasts are never empty during the feeding process. A highly regulated process of milk production is hormone driven and no wonder happy breastfeeding offers many benefits.

Let’s see, how unique breast milk is.

Breast milk contains 87% of water, 1% protein, 4% lipid, and 7% carbohydrate, minerals & vitamins, different antibodies, and a good amount of microbiota. Simple as it sounds. isn’t it?

Every component of breast milk is studied extensively and the verdict is formed.

There is no substitute for breast milk.

The wordings written on infant formula feed are loud enough to convey, the fact, that even though, we know about the composition of breast milk, we can’t manufacture the same with same in factories, that’s why you will see a lot of breastfeeding centres in cities.

The simple reason is, that breast milk osmolality is, 300 to 400 mOsm/kg. The addition of minerals & vitamins, even in small volumes in other feeds can increase osmolality significantly and should be avoided if possible.

Osmolality is the measure of how soft and digestible the breast milk is. This 300 -400 mOsm breast milk has a great flowing capacity, so it oozes out of the breast, can easily be sucked by the baby and helps in building the body mass of the baby without any stomach problems.

There are many formulae feeds or milk substitutes available in the market but nothing matches the composition, functions & superiority of breast milk. For the 1st six months of life, every newborn needs breast milk as a sole diet.

Let’s see, which factors affect the breast milk supply and how to avoid it.

Remember the fact, its demand and supply of breast milk, breast stimulation has an important role to play.

1. Stress-related anxiety often decreases milk production.

Initial few weeks of the newborn, the sleep cycles of the baby create a lot of stress. Adjusting the schedule along with newborn often release cortisol, a stress hormone. There are instances, where the mother had ample breast milk & become dry within a few days due to stress & related uncertainties.

You have struggled through the pregnancy blues and it’s time to adapt peacefully to the changes. This is the time, you should consult a lactation expert to guide you through these phases.

Involve the entire family in creating the breastfeeding positive ambience which is calming, easy-to-feed places with cushions, soothing music and participation of entire family members to make the event easy.

2. Ease & Use of formula feed decreases the breast milk supply.

As we have learned that breast milk is produced based on demand & supply. It is of vital importance to allow the baby to latch on to both the breast to produce breast milk. Formula feed if introduced in between, can reduce the supply of breast milk considerably.

As the body gets the message that breast milk is not required, which results in reduced breast milk. As, formula feed is energy dense, and offers satiety to the baby, which induces sleep. The absence of latching often reverts the process of supply.

Pumping of breast milk can be done and kept handy, it can be refrigerated too. To maintain the hygiene of the instruments for pumping & bottles.

3. Reducing the caloric intake of mothers reduces breast milk.

Dieting to reduce the fat or weight gained during pregnancy is often harmful to breast milk. Due to diet, the body doesn’t get enough nutrients which slows the process of breast milk.

Even maintaining hydration with water is good.

Carry water wherever you go & drink. Don’t encourage dieting during breastfeeding.

4. Separation of mother and child (return to work, school);

7 This detachment is seen as an important factor that reduces the breast milk supply. You can overcome this by pumping the milk & keep it in the refrigerator. So even in absence of the nursing mother, a child gets the breast milk in time.

5. Avoid falling sick as illnesses result in fatigue, diarrhoea, and lethargy which calls for the separation of the newborn and results in reduced breast milk.
6. Mother who does not wake up (drugs, alcohol, medication)or Breast injury/bad breastfeeding position often results in reduced breast milk.
7. Baby refusing the breast due to rapid flow, flat nipple or inability to latch on comfortably.
8. Baby sleeping for long periods may be due to illness (jaundice, prematurity, certain medication);

The result of insufficient breast milk is, that a baby will be underweight and prone to common infections or seasonal changes. A child will be irritated and less playful.

Help at hand with various resources through family members, elders and expert lactation consultants are readily available. The beautiful lifetime gift of breastfeeding till the weaning is a much-cherished memory for the family & worth being practised for generations.

Breast milk or Liquid Gold is the best nutrition for your baby. The theme of World Breast Feeding Week this 2022 is to encourage all stakeholders to enable mums to feed their babies anytime, anywhere.

Each animal makes milk which is appropriate for their own young ones, and this milk carries Great Value. For humans, milk is produced in the breast and so breast milk as it is popularly known is the liquid gold for the human baby.

Endorsement of such unique & universally available free baby food is celebrated as “world breastfeeding week “every 1^st to 7^th of August since 1992.

In line with communication of the 1990 & thereafter in a declaration about breastfeeding, there are 8 ways to celebrate, a breastfeeding week, to show your support and create awareness.

1. 1. Find the right bra fit.
2. Participate in the Global big latch on weekend 6 to 8 August)
3. Share Your “Brelfies (breastfeeding selfie)
4. Thank Nursing Mom.
5. Find Time to Rejuvenate.
6. Talk About Your Breastfeeding Experience.
7. Join a Local Breastfeeding Class or Support Group
8. Feed your baby.

To create awareness, find time to reach out when somebody needs help. We need to talk about the breastfeeding experience.

It is important to understand, why stress is on the human breast milk. Nature has made provision that every mother’s care is just right for her baby.

Thus, cows’ milk is just right for the calf, goat’s milk for baby goat, lioness milk for the Lion cub, cats milk for a kitten and the list goes on, ending with human milk is for the human baby.

What does liquid gold offer?

It contains hormones and antibodies to fight infection.

It had just the right amount of protein sugar fat and vitamins for the Infant to thrive.

It offers the foundation for lifelong good health.

For a mother, breastfeeding drives lower anxiety, increased bone strength, decreases heart disease, and decreases breast cancer risk. It is also important to understand that the baby should breastfeed within the first hour after birth.

Baby doesn’t need to be taught like all other animals, how to latch on. When a just-born baby is kept on the mother’s abdomen or tummy, the baby moves or crawls towards the breast and latches the nipple & sucks the breast milk.

The more the number of latching, the more breast milk. It is a demand and supply system.

Baby unless ill or needing any extra medical care should be allowed to be kept next to the mother. This posture maintains the physiological stability of the baby with respect to temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate.

There are enormous benefits to breastfeeding for mother as well as child.Let’s see the benefits for the baby first.

A breastfed baby develops well

It has a good bowel movement

The least probability of jaundice

Happy & cheerful baby as breastfeeding is aptly right to the stomach of the baby.

Stabilizes baby’s blood sugar.

Now the most obvious question that arises in mind is, if a baby who is in NICU, will lose out on the liquid gold? Of course not. Mother nature has generous ways to offer the same benefit.

The mother can express milk using her hands or pump and this milk which is, derived can be delivered to NICU.

Breast milk can be handed over to the nurse in charge, or, it can be kept in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 hours. The sister in charge makes sure that the baby receives the milk.

Finally, we need to understand that breastfeeding does not cause, loss in our figures. In contrast, breastfeeding leads to happy moments, connecting mothers to healthy and satisfied babies.

This is why, you will see that even a poor woman who has a completely nourished baby, is lean and healthy.

Breastfeeding develops the physical, and emotional connect with the baby. Nevertheless, a lot of awareness needs to be created for nursing mothers as well as the places in public to be marked as breastfeeding-friendly structures. Male partners should actively participate in the same practice.

So, love your baby, breastfeed your baby, and encourage the future generations to promote and push for breastfeeding.