Breastfeeding holds many benefits. Some benefits are well known, while others are often a surprise to new parents and grandparents.  Here are some lesser-known facts that highlight breastfeeding/ breastmilk’s complex and wonderous qualities:   

1.  Breast Milk Composition Varies: Breast milk composition can vary not only between parents but also within a single breastfeeding session. Foremilk, the initial milk released during a feeding, is often thinner and higher in volume, while hindmilk, released later, is richer in fats and calories, providing a balanced nutrition profile for the baby.   

2.  Breast Milk Changes to Suit Baby’s Needs: Breast milk adapts to the changing nutritional needs of the baby. For instance, during illness, a mother’s body can produce milk with higher antibodies to help the baby fight infections.    

3.  Breastfeeding Burns Calories: Nursing can burn between 300 to 500 extra calories per day through breastfeeding. This is a key reason that a new breastfeeding parent needs enough daily calories to produce adequate milk supply.    

4.  Breastfeeding Affects Hormones: Oxytocin, known as the “love hormone,” is released during breastfeeding. It promotes bonding between breastfeeding parent and baby. Oxytocin also helps the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size.    

5.  Breastfeeding and Maternal Health: Breastfeeding has many benefits for mothers, including reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancers, osteoporosis, Type II diabetes, and postpartum depression.    

6.  Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs): Breast milk contains complex sugars called HMOs that are indigestible by infants but promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the baby’s gut, supporting their immune system (Davis, et al., 2017).  

7.  Breastfeeding is Protective Against Pollution: The burning of trees, fossil fuels, and car emissions cause air pollution that harms the health of exposed populations. Infants are especially at risk to the negative effects of air pollution due to their immaturity. Research suggests that breastfeeding helps to protect the infant from these negative effects of air pollution exposure (Zielinska et al., 2019).  

8.  Breastfeeding in Emergencies: During natural disasters or emergencies, breastfeeding provides a reliable source of nutrition for infants when other food sources may be scarce or contaminated.  

These facts highlight the remarkable adaptability and benefits of breastfeeding. As ongoing research continues to uncover more about breast milk's complexities, its significance as a benefit to baby continues to be reaffirmed.  

Resources: 
Davis, J., Lewis, Z., Krishnan, S. et al. Growth and Morbidity of Gambian Infants are Influenced by Maternal Milk Oligosaccharides and Infant Gut Microbiota. Sci Rep 7, 40466 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/srep40466 

Zielinska, M. A. et al. (2019) Protective effect of breastfeeding on the adverse health effects induced by air pollution: current evidence and possible mechanisms. www.mdpi.com/562866