Whether or not breastmilk has enough nutrients is the top question of breastfeeding mothers. Why is the color of breast milk changing differently? Is thin breast milk slow to gain weight? How can I maintain a healthy breast milk supply for my baby during the first few months of life?
How is breast milk thick - thin?
Not everyone who breastfeeds properly understands breast milk. Quite a few women are mistakenly thinking that breastmilk must be milky white, ivory-yellow is condensed milk, and as clear as water to wash rice is thin milk. In fact, the main source of milk to feed your baby is adult milk with up to 90% water. The variation in the color of this milk line is to meet the nutritional needs of the baby in the growing stages. Adult milk is divided into 2 forms:
Colostrum : is the milk that is secreted in the first 10 minutes when the mother starts to breastfeed. The milk color is usually clear and thin like rice water, but it is the main source of water, vitamins and protein for children
End milk : is secreted after the baby has finished the first milk, contains high fat content, provides lots of energy to help children grow fast. With abundant nutrition in the ingredients, breastmilk becomes thick and yellow at this time. When babies are breastfed both colostrum and colostrum, they will be provided with enough nutrition and develop healthy
The concept of solid or thin breastmilk is solely based on the senses, not on assessment of milk composition and quality.
Does breast milk have enough quality?
According to experts, in fact, the color of breast milk is not a factor showing the nutritional composition of milk. Basically, the quality of milk in all mothers had almost no difference whether the amount of milk was large or small, thin or thick. Colostrum may look thinner but still contains all the nutrients and ingredients needed for a baby's development.
The mother should only care about how much breastmilk is, but absolutely not that diluted breastmilk is not enough for the baby. For mothers who have too much milk, babies can only breastfeed and quickly become hungry, not plump due to lack of energy. So, the mother can express the first milk to freeze and continue feeding the baby.
However, each baby has a different ability to absorb nutrients, so the baby's weight gain depends not only on the quality of solid or thin breast milk, but also due to many other factors. It is important that mothers always believe that they have a nutritious source of milk to feed their baby.
When is thin breast milk a problem?
Whether breastmilk is thickened or thin is due to the mother's situation. Moreover, the first milk is always thinner than the following milk, so the mother needs to feed 15–20 minutes per meal for the baby to reach the condensed milk. However, if the baby is already empty and the last milk is still white and thin as the amount of the first milk, the mother is having problems with nutrition and feeding methods:
Poor nutrition, insufficient quality due to too much abstinence or difficult living conditions, and inadequate care are also the reasons for dilute breast milk and the quality of milk.
Breastfeeding improperly, not feeding regularly, breastfeeding, sniffling, uncontrolled feeding time makes breast milk less and less, mother's breasts are not tight and mothers do not feel milk when feeding suck. If this condition does not improve, it will affect the breastfeeding process
A mother who is sick, must be treated with antibiotics or the food she consumes can greatly affect the taste as well as the consistency and thinness of the milk.
The secret to maintaining an abundant source of breast milk
Instead of worrying about thin or thick breastmilk, breastfeeding women should pay attention to improving nutritional quality and maintaining a rich source of breast milk by making changes in diet and daily activities:
After giving birth, women need rest and good care. Mother should also exercise gently and keep the spirit at ease and comfort. The reasonable living regime also helps to secrete milk plentiful and rich in nutrients
Completely supplementing 4 essential groups of nutrients including protein, fat, carbohydrates, and vitamins and minerals while maintaining supplementation of 2 essential and important substances, iron and calcium by oral tablets or real foods. High-content products
Avoid spicy, greasy, spicy foods or beverages containing stimulants such as coffee, alcohol, or beer as they can affect the quality of breast milk.
Breastfeed properly and regularly. This helps to stimulate the secretion of the milk more evenly
Avoid mistakenly drinking water makes breastmilk dilute, but in contrast, drinking enough water and adding a glass of warm milk before breastfeeding contributes to stimulating milk production.
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