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Home / Healthcare & Medicine / Nutrition / Nutrition: Eating to Live Well / The Composition of Breast Milk Over Time

The Composition of Breast Milk Over Time

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Next, we’ll talk about the changed-nutrients content in different breastfeeding period This diagram shows the colostrum and mature breast milk. The colostrum has a higher fat content. Because the volume of colostrum is less, thus it contains more fat. Fat can make the babies feel full. Besides than that, there’s also a difference between foremilk and hindmilk. Foremilk means the milk from the first 15-20 minutes of breastfeeding every time and hindmilk refers to the breast milk after 15-20 minutes. The greatest difference between foremilk and hindmilk is the content of fat will be increased By increasing fat content will help the babies feel full The longer feeding time the mother have, more fat contained in breast milk.
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More fat gives babies a sense of fullness satisfaction. This satisfaction can extend the interval to the next feeding time longer. Next, let’s look at the content of breast milk and cow milk. breast milk contains various type of vitamin and the volume is higher than cow milk. However, minerals are in different cases. The minerals contained in breast milk are lower compared to cow milk. But there is reasons why they’re lower. For example, iron.
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we can see that the absorption rate of iron from breast milk is 50% and it is much higher than the absorption rate compare to cow milk It is because the breast milk do also contains rich vitamin C, lactose and iron These elements could increase the absorption rate of iron in the breast milk. In summary, we have found out that protein content in breast milk is the most appropriate for babies compared to formula milk and animal milk. And breast milk contains essential fatty acids. Although the iron content is less, breast milk is easily absorbed by babies. The vitamin content is also sufficient for the babies. Breast milk has a better source of nutrients.
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In addition, it also provides a lot of immunoglobulin and several enzymes, lactose, iron, and epidermal growth factor etc. These special compounds help babies to enhance their immunity, and reduce the possibilities of the baby’s illness, and make them healthier.

What are the changes in the composition of breast milk over time? Prof. Chen will introduce breastmilk composition.

In general, fat in breast milk seems to change the most. The colostrum, the milk produced by the mother immediately after giving birth, has higher fat content. Fat can make the babies feel full.

Besides that, there’s also a difference in composition between foremilk and hindmilk. Foremilk means the milk from the first 15-20 minutes of breastfeeding every time and hindmilk refers to the breast milk after 15-20 minutes. The greatest difference between foremilk and hindmilk is the content of fat will be increased. In the final part, Prof. Chen will explain the difference in the mineral comparing chart. She will explain the reason why breast milk has lower iron.

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This content is taken from Taipei Medical University online course
Nutrition: Eating to Live Well
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