Breastfeeding – as important for your child as it is for you

“Every mother wants what is best for her child from the very beginning,” says Kholoud Mohamed Assiri. As head of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the AFH in Saudi Arabia she has guided hundreds of new mums through their first days, weeks and months with their babies. “Especially with the first child, mothers put themselves under enormous pressure to do everything right. They want everything to go smoothly, including breastfeeding.” 

Breastfeeding, however, isn’t always easy, and it is likely that new parents will come up against some challenges in the beginning. Nevertheless, Assiri says, it’s worth sticking with it - and if breastfeeding still doesn’t work out for you and your little one, there are alternatives.

There is no more appropriate way to describe the wondrous liquid that the female body is capable of producing than a miracle. Breast milk provides your child with carbohydrates, proteins, fats, water and many other vital nutrients. More importantly, a mother’s milk adapts to the age of their child as they grow. Its composition changes to ensure they have what they need at every stage of development. However, from day one, it will always contain the following: 

• Millions of living cells, including white blood cells that strengthen your baby’s immune system. It also contains stem cells and around 1,000 proteins that support organ development. 
• Substances called nucleotides that support growth and have positive effects on gut function and sleep. 
• Oligosaccharides, which are prebiotic substances that help protect your baby against infections. 
• Enzymes, which build and strengthen your baby’s immune system in the first weeks and months of life.
• Hormones, minerals, antibodies and a whole list of other things that only breast milk can give to a new, little human to help them on their way as they grow. 

“In the first few days after birth, the mother produces a type of breastmilk called colostrum,” says Assiri. “To put it simply, it’s like a magic potion.” 

Colostrum is a thick, often sticky, liquid with a yellow to orange color. Babies love it. Although they can only drink very small amounts in the beginning, this special milk contains everything they need. 

“In the first three or four days, a baby will only drink 40 to 50 ml in a 24-hour period,” Assiri says. “But those 40 to 50 ml are what strengthens them and gets them off to the best start in life.” 

Doctors also refer to colostrum as a “natural vaccination” because it contains a huge amount of white blood cells and antibodies. It also helps the gut flora flourish, which prepares the gut to digest baby food later on. 

About five days after the baby’s birth, the mother’s milk composition starts to change. 

“It’s miraculous what the female body can and does achieve – all on its own,” Assiri says. “Around day five to seven is when the ‘milk comes in.’ This means the breasts not only produce more milk, but the composition of the milk also changes.” 

Now, your little one will start drinking 500 to 800 ml of milk per day, instead of just 50 ml as in the first few days. 

“It is not uncommon for women’s breasts to visibly swell and become larger during this time,” explains the midwife. “It’s not always a pleasant process, which is why it’s so important to wear a supportive bra and to anticipate that the breasts will probably leak milk.” Assiri advises mothers to invest in good underwear early on and to use breast pads. “It’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” she says. 

Just as the baby grows, the mother’s body will also adjust. This will help the mother understand if the baby is still hungry after breastfeeding, and eventually know when to wean off breastfeeding. 

“About a month after the birth, the mother’s milk will change again to meet their child’s needs,” Assiri says. The mother will begin producing “mature milk,” which contains more nutrients and has a higher concentration of proteins, antibodies and enzymes. The milk helps strengthen the baby’s immune system and development day-by-day.

It is encouraged to continue breastfeeding as long as possible, especially in the first six months. However, eventually the mother and baby will begin showing signs that they are ready to wean from breastfeeding. 

“There will come a point when your child also needs complementary foods,” says Assiri. “In most cases, this will be around five or six months.”

It is encouraged to continue breastfeeding for as long as it works well for you and your child – including during the weaning phase. Consult with your midwife or doctor when you begin introducing foods to your infant. 

“Don’t let anyone force you into anything or talk you into doing anything you don’t want to do,” Assiri says. “This is about you and your child. Find your own way of doing things at your own pace. Breastmilk is a miracle of nature, which should be leveraged, but there’s no use in putting too much pressure on oneself if it doesn’t work as planned. That’s just as natural.”