The Importance of Exclusive Breastfeeding: What It Means and Types of Breast Milk

KOMPAS.com – The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends giving breast milk or exclusive breastfeeding to babies. However, do you know what exclusive breastfeeding means?

This article will explain what exclusive breastfeeding is and the types of breastfeeding you need to know.

Also read: Know the Benefits of Breast Milk and the Right Way to Breastfeed

What is exclusive breastfeeding?

Exclusive breastfeeding is giving breast milk to babies without additional food or other drinks, except medicine.

Exclusive breastfeeding is given to babies as soon as possible after birth until they are 6 months old.

A number of studies have proven that breast milk given exclusively for the first 6 months of life can provide the nutrients needed for the growth and development of your little one.

For example, breast milk that comes out on the first day to the fifth day after delivery or what is called colostrum has more protein than formula milk.

Reporting from the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) website, protein from breast milk contains more whey, so it is more easily absorbed by the baby’s intestines.

Breast milk also contains several amino acids and nucleotides which play a role in the development of brain tissue, nerves, intestinal maturity, iron absorption, and body immunity.

In addition, breast milk also contains fat which is needed for the growth of nerve tissue and the retina of the eye.

Besides that, breast milk is also rich in vitamins and minerals which are very useful for the formation of cells and tissues.

Seeing the various nutritional content in breast milk, parents need not hesitate to give only breast milk or exclusive breastfeeding to their babies for the first 6 months of life.

Quoted from WHO, children who are exclusively breastfed have better intelligence, are less likely to be obese or overweight, and have a lower risk of suffering from diabetes later in life.

Also read: 8 Ways to Get Lots of Breast Milk, Breastfeeding Mothers Need to Know

What are the types of breast milk?

Reporting from YankesKemkes, there are three types of breast milk, namely colostrum, transitional milk, and mature milk. Check out the following explanation.

Colostrum is the first milky liquid that comes out of the mother’s breast.

Colostrum is a different color from normal breast milk. The color of colostrum is yellowish white.

Colostrum contains 8.5% high protein, 3.5% small carbohydrates, 2.5% fat, 0.4% salt and minerals, 85.1% water, and fat soluble vitamins.

In addition, colostrum is also high in secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA), lactoferrin, leukocytes, and developmental factors such as epidermal growth factor.

Colostrum needs to be drunk to babies because it plays an important role in cleaning the digestive tract of newborns.

Transitional milk is breast milk produced after colostrum. This transitional milk comes out until the baby is 14 days old.

The protein content in transitional milk is lower than colostrum.

However, fat, lactose, water-soluble vitamins, and breast milk volume increase as the frequency of breastfeeding increases.

Also read: Why clear breast milk? Check out the following explanation…

Mature breast milk is milk secreted from the 14th day onwards and its composition is relatively constant.

Mature milk is divided into two, namely early milk or primary milk, and late milk or secondary milk.

Early milk is also called foremilk which tends to be clear and runny. Even though it is clear, this breast milk contains the lactose and water needed by the baby.

Lactose contained in early breast milk is a source of energy for your little one.

Meanwhile, final milk is also called hindmilk. This breast milk has a thicker texture with a thick white color.

Hindmilk contains fat that provides a lot of energy, gives a feeling of satiety, brain formation, and protects vital organs.

Babies must be given the opportunity to suckle for a long time so that they can get early and late breast milk in a balanced way.

After knowing what exclusive breastfeeding is and the types of breast milk, fathers and mothers no longer need to give breast milk from the time the baby is born to 6 months and continue until your little one is 2 years old.

If you have problems related to breastfeeding, such as breast milk not coming out, milk withdrawing, swollen breasts, and hyperlactation, immediately visit a doctor or lactation expert to find out the cause and how to handle it.

Also read: 12 triggers of breast milk that don’t come out that shouldn’t be ignored

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2023-07-23 09:00:00
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