The difference between foremilk and hindmilk cannot be ignored

Many new mothers will find that when breastfeeding, there is a difference between the milk the baby just sucks and the milk that has been sucking for a while. This is the so-called foremilk and hindmilk. So what is the difference between foremilk and hindmilk? It is said that foremilk is not as nutritious as hindmilk. Is this true? So can we do without foremilk? Let me give you some scientific knowledge.

1. Appearance

When feeding the baby normally, the milk in the first ten minutes of the same breast is bluish in color. This is foremilk, which contains more water, protein and lactose and is thinner in texture. The fat content in hindmilk is higher than that in foremilk, so it is whiter in color and thicker in texture.

2. Nutrition

Foremilk is thinner and contains more water, which is equivalent to the baby's appetizer and can quench the baby's thirst. Therefore, babies under 6 months old do not need additional water when breastfeeding even in the hot summer. Hindmilk has a higher fat content and is considered a baby's main meal, which can provide more energy for the growing baby. Babies who often eat hindmilk usually grow fast and gain weight.

Foremilk and hindmilk have different functions, and there is no good or bad difference. When the baby first touches the nipple, foremilk can solve the baby's thirst problem in time because it is thin and has high water content. As the baby sucks, the intervention of hindmilk provides more fat for the baby, thereby increasing the baby's development in all aspects. If the baby only eats foremilk, he will be thinner because he eats less fat. If he only eats hindmilk, he will eat less protein and water, and the baby will often be thirsty and it will not be good for intellectual development. Therefore, the two are mutually cooperative rather than competitive.

It is the total amount of milk consumed per day, not just the hind milk, that determines the baby's weight gain. The most important thing for a baby's weight gain and growth is the total amount of milk consumed every 24 hours. Generally speaking, the average baby needs to consume about 750 ml of milk per day. However, it does not matter to the baby whether he eats 30 ml of milk every hour or 95 ml of milk every three hours, as long as he gets enough.

It has no effect on the mother, but it is different for the baby. If the baby eats breast milk with high fat content for a long time, it is easy to cause excess energy and lead to overweight or even obesity.

There is also an opposite situation. In order to ensure that the baby has enough milk, some mothers often let the baby eat a few mouthfuls of this and then a few mouthfuls of that, so that the baby can easily eat water to get full. Because the foremilk has less energy, if the baby eats both sides in turn, the foremilk will be consumed, and the intake of the high-fat hindmilk will be less, affecting the energy intake.