How is breast milk formed? How can I produce more breast milk?

What are the nutritional components of breast milk?

Breast milk contains more than 400 nutrients that cannot be replicated by milk powder. The main ingredient of milk powder is milk, but the milk needs to be processed through multiple steps during the production process. Water needs to be added to dilute the milk, sugar needs to be added to make up for the lost calories, preservatives need to be added, various missing nutrients need to be added, and the unreasonable proportions of calcium, phosphine, magnesium, iron, zinc, etc. in the milk need to be adjusted. Unfortunately, breast milk contains more than 400 nutrients - most of which are growth hormones that are beneficial to the development of the baby's brain - that cannot be replicated by any milk powder manufacturer (even if some milk powders are added with artificially refined synthetic DHA and AA, they are still far behind breast milk).

1. The milk in milk powder contains several times more fat, protein, salt and minerals than breast milk. These extra substances will increase the burden on the baby's kidneys and digestive tract, and even lay hidden dangers for the baby's future health, such as high blood pressure, juvenile diabetes and adolescent obesity. Breast milk contains taurine that promotes brain development, lactoferrin that promotes iron absorption, lysozyme that prevents diseases, nucleotides that promote tissue development, DHA that enhances vision, etc. These precious nutrients cannot be imitated by milk powder.

2. Breast milk contains natural lactose that is slow to decompose and easy to digest, and the lactose content is one and a half times higher than that of milk in formula. In order to compensate for this, formula must add sucrose or other substitutes, which causes the baby's blood sugar to rise and fall too quickly, and a large amount of insulin and stress-resistant hormones must be secreted, which has an adverse effect on the baby's health. The natural lactose in breast milk plays a vital role in the baby's brain development, and it also promotes the absorption of many minerals, especially calcium.

3. Breast milk is very easy to absorb and digest, while formula milk causes constipation in babies. Breast milk contains biochemical enzymes that help babies digest. Whey is the main protein in breast milk, which is intestinal friendly, soft and easy to digest. Most of its nutrients are fully absorbed, so breastfed babies have very smooth bowel movements. The main protein in formula milk is casein, which forms rubbery curds and is very difficult to digest. It is rarely fully absorbed and mostly becomes waste. Therefore, the bowel movements of formula milk babies are hard and smelly, and they often suffer from constipation.

4. Breast milk contains natural cholesterol, while formula milk has no cholesterol at all. Although we adults are more "afraid" of cholesterol, it is actually essential for the growth and development of babies in the first two years, especially the development of the brain and nervous system, and the production of vitamin D. Lack of cholesterol and DHA can lead to heart and central nervous system diseases in adults. Years of investigation and research have shown that the average IQ of breastfed babies is higher than that of formula-fed babies, and the longer they are breastfed, the higher their relative intelligence advantage.

How to increase breast milk

Change your mindset. There are some things written on the first few pages of every milk powder brochure. I wonder if you have read them. These words are really important. Breast milk is the first choice of food for children. Unless there are special reasons, such as the mother has an infectious disease, breastfeeding must be insisted on. Besides, how is the milk powder produced? Is it expired? What is added? We can't see it with our own eyes. In short, the current milk powder makes people worry about all kinds of things. It's scary to think about it.

Breast milk helps children improve their immunity. Colostrum is the essence of breast milk, which is the yellowish liquid that comes out at the beginning. If you breastfeed, you don’t have to get up in the middle of winter to pour hot water and fill the milk powder. You don’t have to look for acquaintances to buy imported milk powder for you. You won’t be nervous when you see a brand of milk powder exposed. You can feed your child whenever he is hungry. The temperature is constant, which is convenient and fast. You can also save a lot of money on milk powder at least once a month. When the child is breastfeeding, the adult can also feel relaxed and there is more intimacy between the two parties. The child will feel more love and warmth from the mother.

How can mothers who have had cesarean sections increase their milk supply? Because they have just had surgery, the wound is very painful, so how can they have the energy to breastfeed? Moreover, as a new mother, they don’t know how to breastfeed at all. However, they must let the baby suckle as soon as possible in the first few days after the baby is born. If you miss the opportunity, you will not have breast milk anymore. Ask someone you know who has breastfeeding experience to help, or find someone to help and guide you. Find a slightly more comfortable position to sit or lie down. You must endure the pain for the sake of your child’s food.

Generally, after a caesarean section, you can drink soup and eat porridge after the gas is ventilated (farted). Even if you have no appetite and don't want to eat, you have to force yourself to eat. If the milk has not come out yet, you can also massage yourself or find a lactation consultant. The salary of lactation consultants is very high now. But the key is to let the baby suck more and supplement your nutrition so that you can act as a breast milk processing factory and process more breast milk. Seeing the breasts bulging and the baby eating contentedly, you also feel that all the efforts are worth it.

If you really can't afford spare ribs and fish soup, you have to drink porridge. I have seen a mother who was so thin that she could be blown away by the wind, but she had so much milk that she could hardly finish it. Later I learned that she would go to the supermarket to buy crucian carp every day and drink a big bowl of fish soup by herself, so she naturally had a lot of milk. So you have to drink water, porridge, soup, soup and water frequently, otherwise how can you make milk without raw materials? In addition, you have to keep a good mood. Don't get upset all the time and don't want to feed your child.

Don't often use a bottle to feed your baby water or milk powder, because it's not so strenuous to drink from a bottle. After a long time, the baby will become lazy and won't suck the nipple hard anymore. When the milk doesn't come out at the beginning, you can use a spoon or a syringe to feed the baby milk powder. Even if the milk doesn't come out, you should insist on letting the baby suck milk. The earlier you start, the better. Don't be afraid that the baby's mouth is too small and you can't handle it. Try a few more times. They are also trying very hard to practice sucking milk. In order to prevent his nose from being blocked and breathing difficult, pay attention to slightly press the skin there with your fingers.

Don't stop breastfeeding just because your baby has trouble feeding, has diarrhea, or has jaundice, or for any other reason. Find out the reason first. Once you stop breastfeeding, it will be very difficult to resume breastfeeding. Every time you feed your baby, make sure he or she is full. If you can't finish the feeding, squeeze out the milk. Another thing to emphasize is the feeding posture. Let the baby hold the entire areola in his or her mouth. Otherwise, the nipple will be easily injured if it is pulled. If the skin is broken, it will be very painful and will affect breastfeeding.

Having said so much, in fact, your own persistence and determination are the most important. You must think in your heart that milk must come and must be plentiful, and then work hard, and milk will come. Don't be shaken when the elderly at home say that milk is not enough and milk powder is more nutritious (many elderly people think that the things they buy are better). You must read more parenting books and learn enough parenting knowledge. It is best to breastfeed until the age of two, and you can add some complementary foods when the age is six months.

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