All Things Breastfeeding 51: Breastmilk Changes Over Time

Breastmilk changes over time!

Really, this is true! Yes, in this podcast Barbara and Jessica talk about how breastmilk changes over time. It is really quite amazing! Many health care providers tell families there is no nutritional value for babies from breastmilk after one year. Like it turns into water! Breastmilk is a living, dynamic fluid that works in real time to protect babies with the optimal nutrition.

At birth:

Your breastmilk is perfect! Full of ready to utilize goodness. Designed perfectly to help the baby’s body shift from intrauterine feedings to oral feedings. Colostrum comes in small amount loaded with immune protection for your baby. These small amounts also help the baby’s metabolic system establish itself. There are also things in breastmilk that help the newborns gut to keep out pathogens.

First few months:

As the baby gets older the breastmilk supply increases to about 25-30ish oz per 24 hours. This amount doesn’t need to keep increasing over time because the baby’s growth slows so they don’t need more calories as they get bigger for the first six months or so. Of course, at around six months we do add solids to make up for those needed calories. You can influence the quality of your breastmilk as well. Having plenty of good fats and Vitamin D in your diet transfers to your breastmilk! Your good nutrition helps make more nutritious milk for your baby! You can take care of both of you by eating well.

Around a year:

Breastmilk immune protect revs up again as the baby start to really move and is putting everything is their mouths! Thank goodness for this protection! We like to think of breastmilk as the perfect protein shake or vitamin a baby could have after a year. Remember, at all times when a baby is expose to illnesses their saliva tells mothers what antibodies to make to protect them! Customized! To find out more about older babies and nursing listen to our podcast! We talk about all of the benefits of nursing older babies, social emotional benefits as well as nutritional benefits.

Some resources on how breastmilk changes over time:

6 Magical ways that breastmilk changes to meet your baby’s needs

Breastmilk composition is Dynamic: Infant feeds, mother responds

Human milk composition: Nutrients and Bioactive factors

And of course one of our favorites:

Frequently Asked Questions about Milk Production

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