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Breastfeeding mother's diet and female milk composition
Table of Contents
1. The diet of a breastfeeding woman
In the 2020 nutrition standards for the population of Poland, breastfeeding women are recommended to consume slightly more nutrients, some vitamins and minerals than women of the same age but not in the lactation period.2. The composition of female milk
The composition of female milk depends on many factors: the lactation period, environmental factors, including diet. In the first stage, a few days after birth, sulphur rich in immunological components such as IgA antibodies, lactoferrin, leukocytes is produced. It contains less lactose compared to milk produced in the following weeks. With the course of milk, the ratio of sodium to fats decreases and the lactose content increases. At the next stages, the milk becomes more abundant in fats to provide adequate nutrients for the rapidly growing fats of the newborn.3. The mother's diet and the fatty acids in the milk
Long-chain fatty acids are not derived from endogenous synthesis, but enter the milk from the mother's body, e.g. from foodstuffs eaten by the mother. The long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) content is usually low in the diet of women in developed countries, so it is recommended that they be supplemented. These long-chains of fat acids have been found to be the result of partial fermentation/transplant fermentation.4. Mother's diet and milk microbes
Mother's milk also contains bacteria. Although they are not numerous, they are characterized by a great diversity. These bacteria probably inhabit the intestines of the breastfed baby. According to M. D. Seferovic et al. In an article published in the journal Nature several studies have shown that the microflora in the infant's breast-feeding stool differs from that of children fed with modified milk. These are the same bacteria found in milk, but the oligosaccharides (natural prebiotics) mentioned above have a large effect on the digestion of the unborn baby.5. The mother's diet during breastfeeding and the baby's nutritional habits later
A prospective study by J. P. Beckerman, E. Slade, and A. K. Ventura showed that both breastfeeding length and vegetable intake during this period were linked to higher vegetable consumption by children as young as 6 years old. Perhaps this is due to the fact that during breast-feeding the child is exposed to the flavors of the mother's diet, which may shape future preferences. However, indirect evidence for this may also be the fact, that studies of children as old as 2-13 years old who were breastfed during the first period of life have shown that more vegetables and fruits are eaten in the early stages of breast feeding than newborn babies.6. Elimination diets
It happens that we eliminate gas-producing products (such as cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage) from our diet for fear of developing bloating in the baby. Fortunately, there is no need. The compounds that are responsible for the formation of gas in the intestines do not pass into milk and are unable to cause similar symptoms in the child. It is also unreasonable to eliminate potentially allergenic products to prevent the development of food allergy in the infant. However, only for diagnostic purposes if the child is suspected of being allergic to cow's milk protein, the mother should pause for a period of time to take some milk products to observe whether they can be delivered to the baby at the time of punishment.
