What is Exclusive Breast Milk?
Exclusive breastfeeding refers to giving breast milk as the sole source of nutrition for a baby, without giving any other food or drink for the first six months of life.
In practice, exclusive breastfeeding means that the baby is only given breast milk, either directly from the mother’s breast or by using a breast pump to give it in bottle form.
No formula, juice, water, or other foods are given to the baby during this period. When is exclusive breastfeeding given to the baby? Exclusive breastfeeding is given during the first 6 months of the baby’s life.
Breast milk contains all the nutrients a baby needs, including proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and immune substances. In addition, breast milk also contains antibodies that help protect babies from disease and infection.
WHO (World Health Organization) and UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) recommend giving food to babies during the first six months.
After six months, breast milk remains important and should be accompanied by gradual introduction of complementary foods, while continuing to breastfeed at least until the age of two.
Benefits of Exclusive Breastfeeding for Babies
The benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for infant health include:
- Perfect nutrition for the early years of baby’s growth
According to a scientific journal titled Breast Milk: A Meal Worth Having published in Frontiers Media SA, exclusive breast milk contains all the nutrients a baby needs, including protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals in the right proportions. Breast milk also contains antibodies that help protect babies from infections.
- Prevent allergies
The early years of a baby’s life are a crucial time for the baby to adapt to the environment. This situation makes the baby vulnerable to infections and the possibility of developing forms of allergies.
Well, exclusive breastfeeding can help reduce the risk of allergies in babies. Breast milk contains proteins that are more easily digested than formula milk, so it can help reduce the risk of food allergies and other allergies. According to a scientific journal entitled The Effect of Breastfeeding on Food Allergies in Newborns and Infants published in the MDPI Journal, breast milk contains many active immune factors. Examples include cytokines, inflammatory mediators, signaling molecules, and soluble receptors, which can also reduce the risk of allergic diseases.
- Supports brain development
Exclusive breastfeeding contains essential fats and nutrients that support the development of the baby’s brain. Some substances in breast milk, such as DHA (omega-3 fatty acids), can play a role in brain and vision development.
According to the scientific journal The Science of Breastfeeding and Brain Development published in the Breastfeeding Medicine Journal, breast milk provides more benefits for nerve development in premature babies than formula milk.
In addition, research summarized in the same journal also shows better IQ in children up to the age of 7. This is evident in higher IQ, math skills, and better working memory.
- Make your baby emotionally intelligent
Experts believe that the fatty acid content in breast milk can make a baby’s brain smarter. The emotional bond that is formed between mother and baby during the breastfeeding process also has a good effect on the intelligence of the little one.
According to a study titled Protective effect of breastfeeding with regard to children’s behavioral and cognitive problems, in the journal Springer Nature, there are positive effects of breastfeeding on children’s behavior, intelligence, and bonding with their mothers. It doesn’t stop there, babies who get breast milk also have better emotional levels and experience a reduced risk of depression and withdrawal.
- Reduces the risk of urinary tract infections
Exclusive breastfeeding can help reduce the risk of urinary tract infections in infants. Breast milk contains protective factors that help protect the baby’s urinary tract from infection.
- Building bonding between baby and father
Exclusive breastfeeding also provides an opportunity for fathers to be involved in baby care. Fathers can provide emotional support to mothers during breastfeeding, help with comfortable breastfeeding positions, or look after the baby while the mother rests. This can build a bond between father and child from an early age.
- Protection from disease
Exclusive breastfeeding helps boost the baby’s immune system. Antibodies contained in breast milk help protect babies from various diseases, including respiratory infections, diarrhea, and ear infections.
- As a baby antibody
Breast milk contains antibodies that make the baby’s immune system stronger and can help him fight all bacteria and viruses. Babies will be protected from the risk of diarrhea, constipation, ear infections, and respiratory infections.
Breastfed babies will also reduce their risk of developing diabetes as adults. Antibodies from the mother’s body that are channeled through breast milk also protect babies from asthma and allergies.
- Important for bones
Breast milk is very important to give to your little one for three months or more because it can strengthen the neck and spine bones.
- Babies can get full attention from their mothers
Breast milk is always available, practical, and served at the right temperature for the baby. There is no need to wash milk bottles or heat formula. This not only makes it easier for mothers to feed their babies anywhere and anytime, but also allows the baby to get the mother’s full attention. Exclusive breastfeeding will make it easier for mothers to take care of their babies while doing other activities.
- Keeps the baby’s weight balanced
Breast milk will not make babies too fat, but can keep their weight balanced. Experts say that the insulin content in breast milk is less than that found in formula.
Insulin is a substance that can trigger fat formation. So, giving breast milk will not cause the baby to become fat due to excess fat. In fact, the baby will have more leptin, a hormone that plays a role in regulating appetite and fat metabolism.
- Reduces the risk of sudden death syndrome
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS is the sudden death of a baby under one year of age while sleeping. Usually, premature babies are at higher risk of experiencing the syndrome. However, breastfeeding can reduce the risk of SIDS occurring.
- Babies get a lot of cholesterol intake
Unlike adults who should not consume too much cholesterol, babies actually need cholesterol to support their growth and development.
Why Should Babies Be Given Exclusive Breast Milk?
Babies need exclusive breastfeeding because it has important benefits and nutrients for their development and health. Exclusive breastfeeding contains all the essential nutrients that babies need to grow and develop well. This includes proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and immune substances that are important for keeping babies healthy.
Exclusive breastfeeding can help prevent respiratory tract infections, diarrhea, otitis media, and other diseases in infants. The natural and enzyme-rich composition of breast milk helps the development of the baby’s digestive tract properly.
Exclusive breastfeeding also allows mothers and babies to connect emotionally. Physical contact during breastfeeding can strengthen the bond between mother and baby, increasing the sense of security and intimacy between the two.
The best intake to give to your little one is breast milk. During the first six months of a baby’s life, mothers do not need to provide any additional intake, because breast milk already meets the nutrients that are important for the baby’s growth and development.
Benefits of Breastfeeding for Mothers
There are many benefits of breast milk for mothers, so it is not only beneficial for the baby’s health, providing exclusive breast milk can also bring a number of advantages for the mother, namely:
- Helps mothers lose weight
Not only exercise can burn calories, breastfeeding can too. By breastfeeding, the calories that mothers burn can reach 500 calories per day.
- Building intimacy with your little one
Breastfeeding is a time when mothers can build an intimate emotional bond with their babies. The baby can feel the warmth and scent of the mother’s body, and the mother can touch the skin and look at the baby.
- Breastfeeding can be a natural form of birth control
Exclusive breastfeeding can inhibit ovulation, thus preventing pregnancy. Natural birth control methods through breastfeeding can be successful if the mother is ready to breastfeed whenever the baby needs it.
- Postpartum recovery
According to a scientific journal entitled The Effects of Breastfeeding on Maternal Mental Health: A Systematic Review published in the Journal of Women’s Health, exclusive breastfeeding can help mothers recover after giving birth.
The breastfeeding process releases the hormone oxytocin, which helps the uterus contract and reduces the risk of postpartum hemorrhage. In addition, the release of this hormone can also reduce stress, making the mother’s mood better.
- Better maternal health
Breast milk provides optimal and complete nutrition for mothers. The nutritional content such as protein, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids in breast milk help mothers obtain sufficient nutritional intake.
In addition, breast milk also contains antibodies and natural immune substances that help maintain the mother’s health by improving her immune system.
The Correct Position When Mother Gives Breast Milk
The mother’s position when breastfeeding actually also affects the comfort of the little one when breastfeeding. In addition, the correct position is also important for the comfort of the mother herself.
The following is the correct position when breastfeeding your little one:
- Make sure the mother is sitting comfortably, relaxed, and looking at the baby. The mother’s back should be leaning and her legs should not be dangling. If necessary, provide a footrest.
- The baby’s head and body should be in a straight line, hold the baby close to the mother’s body. The baby’s entire body should be supported, so that the baby can get close to the breast and the nose is facing the nipple.
- If the baby is older, place his head on the mother’s arm and the baby’s buttocks on the mother’s lap.
- If you have twins, both babies can be breastfed simultaneously in a crisscross position or supported under the mother’s armpit.
Make sure the mother gets the most comfortable position when breastfeeding. Hold the baby as close as possible and face him/her to the breast with a straight body position. The baby’s entire body should face the mother’s chest and stomach, not just his/her face.
Mothers also need to stimulate the baby’s sucking reflex by touching the corner of his lips. When the baby’s mouth is wide open, insert the nipple and areola into the baby’s mouth.
Keep in mind, a good latch occurs when the baby’s mouth is wide open with the lower lip folded out. A baby can be considered effective at breastfeeding if he sucks slowly, his cheeks are rounded, and he occasionally stops to swallow breast milk.
Nutrients Contained in Breast Milk
The nutrients contained in breast milk are needed by babies for their growth. What are they?
- Protein
Breast milk contains two types of protein, namely whey (60 percent) and casein (40 percent). This protein balance is beneficial for fast and easy digestion in babies.
Unlike formula milk which has a higher percentage of casein, which is harder for babies to digest, both proteins have great infection protection properties.
Here are some other specific proteins found in breast milk and their benefits:
- Lactoferrin: Inhibits the growth of iron-dependent bacteria in the digestive tract. It may also prevent certain organisms, such as coliforms and yeasts from absorbing the iron your baby needs.
- Secretory IgA: Serves to protect babies from viruses and bacteria, especially those exposed to the baby, mother, and family. This content also helps protect babies from E. coli and possible allergies. Other immunoglobulins, including IgG and IgM, in breast milk help protect against bacterial and viral infections.
- Lysozyme: This is an enzyme that protects babies from E.Coli and Salmonella bacteria. It also promotes the growth of healthy intestinal flora and has anti-inflammatory properties.
- Bifidus Factor: Protein that supports the growth of lactobacillus. It is important to note that lactobacillus is a good bacteria that protects babies from bad bacteria, by creating an acidic environment in which it cannot survive.
- Fat
Breast milk also contains fats that are important for the health of the baby. This substance is needed for brain development, absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, and is a major source of calories.
Fatty acids are long chains that are necessary for the development of the brain, retina, and nervous system. They are stored in the brain during the last trimester of pregnancy and are also found in breast milk.
The fat content in milk increases with each feeding. Hindmilk (breast milk that comes out at the end of a feeding session) provides two or three times more fat than foremilk (breast milk that comes out at the beginning of a feeding session). Foremilk is thinner and lower in fat, calories, and vitamins A and E than hindmilk.
- Vitamin
The amount and type of vitamins in breast milk are directly related to the mother’s vitamin intake. That is why it is so important for your baby to get enough nutrients, including vitamins. Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are all important for your baby’s health.
Water-soluble vitamins such as vitamin C, riboflavin, niacin, and pantothenic acid are also important. Because of the need for these vitamins, many doctors and lactation consultants will ask breastfeeding mothers to continue taking their prenatal vitamins.
- Carbohydrates
Lactose is the main carbohydrate found in breast milk. It accounts for about 40 percent of the total calories provided by breast milk. Lactose helps reduce the large number of unhealthy bacteria in the stomach.
In addition, carbohydrates also increase the absorption of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. All of which are useful for fighting disease and encouraging the growth of healthy bacteria in the baby’s stomach.
Facts About Breast Milk Color
The color of breast milk can change in response to various factors. Typically, breast milk is white, yellow, or bluish. However, depending on what the mother eats, breast milk can also be green, orange, brown, or pink.
Sometimes, cracked nipple syndrome and mastitis (inflammation of the mammary glands) can affect the color of breast milk. This condition can be alarming, but it is not dangerous. As long as the baby does not refuse the breast, it is safe to continue breastfeeding if the breast milk changes color.
You should also know that certain medications can also affect the color of breast milk. These changes are not dangerous, as long as the medications (and any supplements) have been approved by a doctor for use while breastfeeding.
Breast Milk Flavor
The taste of breast milk is described as sweet and creamy. The sweetness comes from the milk sugar lactose, and the creaminess is due to the amount of fat it contains. However, because foremilk is low in fat, it can seem thin compared to the higher-fat hindmilk.
As mentioned above, the food that the mother eats also contributes to the taste of breast milk. Consuming lots of fruits and vegetables will make the little one familiar with the taste of these foods through breast milk. At the same time, it can help the baby accept the taste of fruits and vegetables when they start eating solid foods (MPASI).
Other factors that can affect the taste of your breast milk include medications, hormones, exercise, smoking, alcohol, and infections such as mastitis. Freezing and thawing breast milk can also give it a soapy taste that some babies may not like, although it is still perfectly safe to give.
Production Stages
Breast milk production begins during pregnancy. When the baby is born, the mother will only have a small amount of breast milk for the first day or two. But don’t worry, this is more than enough for the newborn.
On the third day after giving birth, milk production increases. As the milk comes in, the mother will feel her breasts starting to fill. However, it can take longer (up to five days) for first-time mothers.
In the first two weeks after a baby is born, breast milk develops through three main stages, namely:
- Colostrum (breast milk from the first to the seventh day)
This is the first type of breast milk that is present at the end of pregnancy and for the first few days after the baby is born. The amount of colostrum that the mother’s body makes is small, but that small volume contains everything that the newborn needs in the first few days of life.
- Transitional breast milk (breast milk from day 7 to 14)
This type of breast milk is a combination of colostrum and mature breast milk. When breast milk starts coming in (3-5 days after birth), it mixes with colostrum and gradually switches to mature breast milk over a few days or a week.
- Mature breast milk (14th-day breast milk onwards)
Breast milk changes to mature milk when the baby is about two weeks old. Compared to colostrum, mature milk is lower in protein but higher in fat and carbohydrates. Mature milk contains about 90 percent water to meet the baby’s fluid needs.
How to Store Breast Milk Correctly
The correct way to store breast milk needs to be known properly. There are many things that prevent mothers from giving breast milk to their children directly (breastfeeding). Therefore, breastfeeding mothers must express breast milk and give it to their children through a baby bottle. The question is, how to store breast milk properly?
- Store breast milk at a temperature of 0 – 4 degrees Celsius in the refrigerator. At this temperature, breast milk can last for 1 – 2 days.
- If the mother wants to store breast milk at room temperature of 19 – 25 degrees Celsius, the breast milk can only last 4 – 8 hours.
- Breast milk stored in a single-door freezer can last for 2 months.
- Breast milk stored in a double-door refrigerator can last longer, up to 3-4 months.
- Make sure breast milk is stored in polyethylene plastic packaging or glass cups.
Well, after the age of more than six months, babies need to be given nutritious complementary foods (breast milk).
When to See a Doctor?
If you are worried that your baby is not getting enough breast milk, or feel that your baby is not developing, talk to your doctor right away.
In addition, if you find it difficult to provide breast milk to your little one.