Identifying breastmilk: the type, color, content, and needs for the baby

Exclusive breastfeeding provides essential nutrients for babies during the first few months of life. However, the form of breast milk (ASI) is not always the same since the first time you breastfeed a baby. Yes, there are several types of breast milk with different colors, contents, and thick and liquid textures. So that you are not mistaken, consider all things about breast milk including the need for breast milk for newborns up to several months of age.

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What are the different types of breast milk?

For those of you who have never seen breast milk, you might imagine that it has the same texture and color as milk in general.

Actually, breast milk is indeed white with a texture like most milk that is given to babies or you drink.

It's just that, since the first time it comes out of the mother's breast, breast milk does not immediately form like milk in general.

This baby's first drink comes in several varieties that will continue to change in texture and color over time.

The following is the development process of various types of breast milk from the beginning of the baby's birth until some time later:

1. Colostrum

Colostrum is the first milk that comes out. In contrast to the color of milk in general, colostrum has a slightly yellowish white color.

Colostrum texture itself tends to be thick. That is why not a few mothers do not understand and think colostrum is a type of breast milk that is not good.

In fact, there are many important nutrients contained in this type of colostrum breast milk.

Colostrum usually comes out for the first time after the baby is born so you can immediately give it through early initiation of breastfeeding (IMD).

However, there are also some mothers who have experienced this colostrum discharge a few days before birth, although in very small amounts.

According to the Indonesian Pediatric Association (IDAI), colostrum is usually produced around the first 1-5 days after the birth of a baby.

Colostrum is rich in various nutrients that are good for babies. Protein is one of the highest content in colostrum.

Apart from protein, colostrum is also high in fat soluble vitamins, minerals, antibodies, white blood cells, vitamin A, and immunoglobulins.

The passive immunity contained in this type of colostrum can help protect babies from invading bacteria and viruses that cause disease.

That is why, make sure you give colostrum, aka thick breast milk, for the first time as a way for the baby to get a lot of these nutrients.

2. Transitional breastfeeding

After colostrum production runs out, about 7-14 days after giving birth the type of breast milk then changes. This change in breast milk is called a transition.

So, this type of transition is an intermediate phase from colostrum to real breast milk.

The carbohydrate content contained in colostrum is not very high.

However, when breast milk turns into a transition, the amount of carbohydrates will increase, especially the lactose content.

When compared to colostrum which contains more protein, the transition type contains more fat and milk sugar (lactose).

As for the texture and color, the type of transitional breast milk is a combination of colostrum and mature (mature) breast milk.

Transitional breast milk color usually looks yellowish at first with a slightly thick texture.

As time goes by and more production, transition types will start to look white with a more fluid texture.

This change in color of transitional breast milk which is also quite good can last for approximately 10-14 days.

Quoting from Healthy Children, the amount of production of transitional types of breast milk is far more than colostrum.

3. Breast milk is mature

Mature breast milk is also referred to as a type of mature breast milk. As the name implies, boiled breast milk is one type that is produced in the last stage.

The mature type only starts to come out about two weeks after birth, aka after the transitional milk production runs out.

According to the American Pregnancy Association, about 90% of mature or cooked types consist of water and the remaining 10% contain carbohydrates, protein and fat.

The amount of water content in mature types is useful for keeping the baby well hydrated.

Meanwhile, the content of nutrients such as carbohydrates, protein and fat is one of the benefits of breast milk.

Mature or mature breast milk is generally white, the same as milk in general. But sometimes, the color of mature breast milk can change whether it looks a little orange, yellow, or green.

This is because the mother's diet can affect breast milk. In fact, mature milk that comes out can also look slightly reddish or brown in color.

This is usually caused by blood in the milk from the milk ducts or an injured nipple that eventually enters the flow.

There are two types of color and texture of mature, good breast milk, namely:

Foremilk

This type of breast milk is slightly clear and bluish in color. This color indicates that breast milk has a fairly low fat content.

Foremilk is a type of breast milk that usually comes out in the early days of breastfeeding. The fat content is quite a bit making the foremilk texture tend to be runny.

This also causes the foremilk color to be slightly clear, but it is still a good or good type of breast milk.

Hindmilk

Unlike the color and texture of the foremilk, hindmilk has a much thicker texture but is no less good and good.

That is why, the hindmilk color tends to be white and even slightly yellowish as a sign of its high fat content.

At first glance, Hindmilk looks like a typical milky liquid, which is white or slightly yellowish.

The more it is pumped, the fat content in breast milk will continue to increase, making it thicker.

Especially if you are breastfeeding and pumping breast milk until the last session it will be better because it contains lots of hindmilk.

If the baby is full before feeding until the end, you can outsmart it by using a breast pump.

Don't forget to apply the proper way to store breast milk so that it lasts until it is given to the baby.

So that babies can get all the textures of breast milk, it's good for your little one to breastfeed until the end.

Not only getting the texture of thick breast milk, this method also aims to make your little one get all the ingredients in breast milk.

What are the qualities of breast milk?

The following are various nutritional content in breast milk:

1. Protein

Breast milk is a high source of protein. However, the quality of breast milk protein is much higher than cow's milk because it has a more complete amino acid content.

The quality of the protein in breast milk consists of protein whey as much as 60 percent and casein about 40 percent.

Total protein whey which is quite a lot in breast milk is easily dissolved in water so it is not difficult for the baby to absorb.

While protein casein in breast milk has lower levels and does tend to be a bit difficult to dissolve and be absorbed by the baby.

On the other hand, cow's milk actually contains protein whey which is less and more casein than breast milk.

Protein whey which is quite a lot in breast milk also turns out to contain anti-infectious factors so that it can prevent the baby from developing infection.

2. Carbohydrates

Quality breast milk also has a high carbohydrate content. Lactose is the main type of carbohydrate and accounts for about 42 percent of the total energy in breast milk.

After entering the baby's body, lactose is then broken down into glucose and galactose as a source of energy for the brain.

The content of lactose in breast milk is almost 2 times more than the lactose found in other types of milk.

Some of the lactose that enters the baby's body will also be converted into lactic acid.

Lactic acid plays a role in helping to prevent the growth of bad bacteria, as well as to facilitate the absorption of calcium and various other minerals.

Between breast milk and formula milk, the process of absorption of lactose is much better and breast milk is easier.

However, it is better to avoid giving breast milk mixed with formula (sufor) in the same bottle to the baby.

3. Fat

The quality of fat in breast milk is classified as good with a higher amount than cow's milk or formula milk.

The content of essential fatty acids, namely linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid.

Both are the main ingredients for forming long-chain fatty acids, such as docosahexanoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA).

Both DHA and AA are important nutrients that play a role in the development of nerve tissue and the retina of the baby's eye.

The quality of breast milk is also rich in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, which are both responsible for the development of the baby's brain.

Again, the quality of the fat content in breast milk is much higher than that of formula milk. In fact, the levels of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in breast milk are also more balanced.

4. Carnitine

Carnitine in breast milk has important qualities and functions to build the immune system and form energy for the baby's metabolic processes.

Carnitine is mostly found within 3 weeks of initial breastfeeding. Since the beginning of breastfeeding or when colostrum is still being produced, the levels of carnitine can be much higher.

5. Vitamins

The content of vitamins in breast milk includes fat soluble vitamins such as vitamins A, D, E, and K, to water soluble vitamins such as vitamins B and C.

Fat soluble vitamins in breast milk

Breast milk contains abundant vitamin A, especially in the early days of breastfeeding or in colostrum fluids.

The amount of vitamin A in colostrum can reach up to 5 micrograms (mcg) / 100 milliliter (mL) which is also equipped with the raw material for vitamin A, namely beta-carotene.

The amount of vitamin A in breast milk for each mother may vary. This depends on the mother's food intake during the breastfeeding period.

Breast milk also contains vitamin D, although not too much.

But don't worry, you can still meet your baby's daily vitamin D needs by regularly drying in the morning sun.

Other fat soluble vitamins found in breast milk are E and K.

The amount of vitamin E in infants is quite large, especially in colostrum and early transition types.

Meanwhile, the amount of vitamin K in breast milk is not too much.

Water soluble vitamins in breast milk

Breast milk also contains sufficient amounts of vitamins B and C, which are water soluble vitamins.

However, the amount usually varies depending on the food you eat.

The amount of vitamins B1 and B2 in breast milk is quite high, but the amount of vitamins B6, B9, and B12 is usually low in mothers who are malnourished.

In fact, vitamin B6 is needed to support the development of the nervous system early in life.

If this happens, mothers who are malnourished will usually be given additional vitamin supplements or are encouraged to increase certain food sources.

6. Minerals

Unlike vitamins, the amount of minerals in breast milk is not determined by your food intake and nutritional status.

Calcium is one of the main minerals in breast milk.

The function of calcium is to support the growth of muscle and skeletal tissue, nerve transmission or delivery, and the process of blood clotting.

The rest, the quality of breast milk also contains various minerals such as phosphorus, manganese, copper, chromium, fluorine, and selenium.

How much does a baby need for breast milk?

The amount of breast milk produced varies. Likewise, the breast milk needs of each baby are not always the same.

The following is the distribution of breast milk needs for babies from birth to several months of life:

The need for breast milk for newborns

The need for breast milk for newborns or for the first time breastfeeding is usually not too much.

As the baby gets older day by day, even changing months, this need will generally increase.

Basically, the needs of each baby's breast milk can vary depending on the ability of his body, including when he was just born.

In general, here are the average breast milk requirements for newborns:

• 1st day of birth: 7 milliliter (ml)
• 2nd day of birth: 8-14 ml
• 3rd day of birth: 15-38 ml
• 4th day of birth: 37-58 ml
• Day 5,6 and 7 of birth: 59-65 ml
• Day 14: 66-88 ml

On the 5th and 6th day after birth, the need for breast milk for newborns ranges from 59-65 ml or not much different from the 4th and 7th days.

This is because the need for breast milk has started to increase gradually from the time of birth to several months afterward while adjusting to the ability to breastfeed.

The need for breast milk for babies aged 1-6 months

The average baby aged 1-6 months or during exclusive breastfeeding requires about 750 ml of breast milk per day.

However, the need for breast milk for some babies can also be in the range of 570-900 ml a day. This figure is an average for infants aged 1-6 months.

In order to know exactly how much your little one needs, you can calculate it yourself by estimating the number of times your baby feeds each day.

Here's an example, if your baby can breastfeed 9 times a day, try to estimate his need for one feed.

The way to find out is by dividing based on the needs of breast milk in a day. This means that 750 ml of the average amount needed by the baby divided by 9 times the frequency of breastfeeding.

You will get about 83.33 ml at a time. The need during exclusive breastfeeding tends to increase.

However, the schedule for breastfeeding babies, including the frequency and span of time, can decrease with age.

Take for example in month 1, the frequency of breastfeeding babies is counted around 8-12 times a day with a span of 2-3 hours.

While entering the 2nd month, the frequency of breastfeeding decreased to 7-9 times a day and in the 3rd to 5th month to 7-8 times a day.

The time span for a baby to breastfeed can only be 2.5-3.5 hours a day. Then entering the age of six months, the frequency of breastfeeding may only be 4-6 times a day with a span of 5-6 hours.

Breastfeeding needs aged 6-24 months

When starting to enter the age of six months, the need for breast milk for each child usually tends to decrease. However, this age is a transitional period for giving baby solids.

At the age of 6-24 months, babies will also be given additional food and drinks to help meet their daily needs.

This continues until later you succeed in applying the proper method of weaning children.

Let the baby decide when he wants to feed and is full.

Babies who frequently breastfeed are a sign that they are not getting enough breast milk, which is a myth of breastfeeding mothers.

To make the breastfeeding process easier and smoother, try to apply the right breastfeeding position while preventing problems for breastfeeding mothers.

Also pay attention to the challenges of breastfeeding mothers who are said to hinder milk production.