Breast milk is the food of natural origin produced by the mother’s mammary glands to feed the baby.
There are numerous studies that determine that it is the best choice for the correct feeding of newborns.
Breastfeeding allows the baby to experience healthy and sustained growth.
Importance of the mother’s first milk
In the first hours of life, fluid is of great importance to the baby.
This first milk is also known as colostrum, and in the first hour of life it is a powerful mechanism for protecting the baby’s health.
It provides defensive factors that support the immune system, which contributes to the ability to fight infections.
Features
Some of the characteristics of this dense liquid is that its volume, in the first days, is 2-20 ml per feeding, which is enough to satisfy the needs of the newborn.
It is yellowish in color and contains a high amount of sodium, which gives it a salty taste, similar to that of amniotic fluid.
In turn, its laxative properties favor the expulsion of meconium.
This first milk contains a wealth of bacteria that is essential for the ideal development of the newborn’s bacterial flora.
Advantages of breast milk
Here are some of the benefits of colostrum for infants:
- It is particularly rich in vital organ development factors, so its intake during the first hours of life helps to prevent neonatal mortality.
- It is produced during the four days following delivery, has a low volume and high density.
- It treasures the essential nutrients for optimal growth of the baby.
- It contains sufficient electrolytes and fluids to ensure proper hydration.
- It has a large amount of antibodies that protect the newborn from the predominant diseases in early childhood, such as respiratory infections and diarrhea, among others.
- It is easy to digest, so it minimizes the dreaded baby colic.
- It is always at the right temperature.
- It has excellent bioavailability of calcium, zinc, iron and magnesium.
- Minimizes the risk of malnutrition.
- It allows for bonding between mother and child.
Breastfed babies grow up more secure and emotionally stable.
Tips for new mothers
Some tips to help new moms cope with the challenges of motherhood include the following:
- Follow a balanced diet.
Maintaining a healthy diet will allow the mother to meet all the nutritional requirements she needs.
A caloric intake of 500 grams is recommended. - Adopt a comfortable position when breastfeeding.
You must place the baby correctly on the breast so that you do not feel pain. - Daily intake of a prenatal multivitamin preparation. During lactation, nutritional needs increase by up to 150%.
Therefore, it is advisable to take this multivitamin to obtain sufficient nutrients to meet your requirements and those of your baby. - Taking a break is of utmost importance, for example, while the baby is sleeping.
This break will allow you to recover your energy, as caring for a newborn is very tiring. - Getting out of the house helps to combat the feeling of confinement.
Going for regular walks with the baby is also good for him, because he receives positive stimuli when he comes into contact with the outdoors. - Avoid alcohol.
When breastfeeding, it is best to stay away from alcohol.
It passes into the food and from there to the baby, which can cause damage.
In the following video, breastfeeding counselor Carla Romero tells us about essential tips for your baby’s first milk:
Finally, from our company we would like to add that the mother’s milk, in the first hours of life, contributes to optimize the development and growth of the infant, as it contains all the nutrients required by the baby.
