A Closer Look at Breast Milk

Breast milk contains extraordinary ingredients in every drop.

Most mothers know that breast milk offers superior nutrition for their babies and can protect the baby from illness and disease. However, the wonders of breast milk extend far beyond these already amazing properties, and scientists continue to discover new components of breast milk.

Christine Klynhans, a certified midwife and lactation consultant and spokesperson for BabyWombWorld, shares a few ingredients in breast milk you may not have known about.

five types of antibodies

Antibodies are immune cells that recognise harmful organisms and other threats and act to neutralise them in various ways. Breast milk has all five of the five basic types of antibodies – IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD and IgE.

The antibodies in breast milk are amazing in several ways:

They are not damaged by the enzymes in a baby’s gut.
The mother’s body produces antibodies in response to any threats in the immediate environment, so a baby is protected from exposure to bacteria and viruses.

powerful proteins

Proteins in breast milk are especially designed to help a baby grow. Breast milk also contains a few proteins that play a big role in preventing illness and disease.

Casein, one of the two main proteins in breast milk, prevents harmful organisms from attaching to the baby’s bowel walls.

Fibronectin is a protein that makes immune cells more aggressive so they ingest harmful organisms.

bifidus factor – giving baby‘s probiotics food for thought

Probiotics (or good bacteria) play a vital role in our bodies’ immune systems. Newborn babies are extremely vulnerable to infection as their skin and digestive tract are not yet colonised by good bacteria. A newborn gets their first introduction to good bacteria during birth, when they are exposed to their mother’s probiotics in the vagina and anal area.

Colonisation of bacteria that occurs in the early days and weeks after birth will have long-term effects on the baby’s health.

The bifidus factor is an ingredient in breast milk that promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria.

leptin (a hormone we all could use)

Although the exact mechanism is not yet fully understood, drinking breast milk affects a gene in a baby’s body that produces the leptin hormone. This hormone tells babies when they’ve had enough to drink, preventing overeating. This explains to some extent why breastfed babies drink only as much as they need and instead have smaller feeds more frequently. This offers long-term protection against obesity.

stem cells

Stem cells are found in umbilical cord blood and in bone marrow. They can divide into any other cell in the body. Stem cells are often harvested and stored for later treatment for diseases, such as various types of cancer, cerebral palsy, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

Although the exact role of stem cells in breast milk is still a mystery, ongoing research at the University of Western Australia has found evidence of these cells in the blood and other organs of breastfeeding babies. These cells play a vital role in the optimal functioning and development of these organs.

allergens from mom‘s diet

Research shows that early exposure to allergens reduces the risk of allergies later. A baby’s immature immune system is unable to fully respond to an allergen. However, later on, when the immune system is stronger, it recognises the allergen and is less likely to trigger a full allergic reaction. For this reason, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology now recommends introducing allergenic foods to babies from as early as four months of age.

Breastfed babies are exposed to any allergens the mother is eating through her breast milk. Although not a guarantee that a baby won’t be allergic, this helps to reduce the risk.

oxytocin – the love hormone

Oxytocin is the most powerful endorphin (or feel-good hormone) in the body.

Every time you breastfeed your baby, your body releases oxytocin, which your baby receives. What an amazing mechanism to help mothers cope with the stress of having a new baby. It plays an important role in bonding and in preventing postnatal depression. It highlights one of breastfeeding’s most important advantages – the special bond it creates between mother and child.