Mother’s Milk Magic

My husband and I are looking for a spot to land and I’ve been doing some research around the birth culture in a couple areas we’re checking out. Doesn’t compare to chatting with people in person, but I did come across a social media post as I was digging around on the internet that introduced me researcher Katie Hinde. I was inspired me to do a deeper dive into the science.

It’s easy to think of boobs as a baby’s milk vending machine. However, breast milk is much much more than a food source! It’s actually an active biological system.

5 Things You May Not Know:

• Breast milk composition shifts within a feeding, throughout the day, across lactation, and in response to the developing needs of the infant.

• Human milk contains carbs called human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) that are largely indigestible for baby—these carbohydrates actually feed baby’s developing microbiome.

• Mama’s milk doesn’t just help baby’s body grow. It also helps defend it because it contains immunoglobulins, immune cells, antimicrobial proteins, cytokines, lactoferrin, lysozyme and other bioactive components.

• Milk communicates—it contains a wildly complex collection of biological signals whose functions researchers are still working to understand. Milk contains hormones and other signaling molecules—such as cortisol (stress response, immunity, etc.), leptin (energy balance/appetite regulation), adiponectin (regulates glucose levels) and growth-related factors.

• The composition of milk is influenced by maternal physiology, stage of lactation and characteristics of the infant, among other factors. There’s some interesting research that suggests the backflow of saliva can change the composition of mom’s milk!

I'm continuing to learn about the amazing relationship between mother and infant, and it’s much more complex than we even know!