Breast milk: how to increase production and how to store it?

Breast milk: composition and benefits for the baby

Breast milk matures in three distinct phases of lactation, which correspond to the different compositions of the milk itself. Even before childbirth, at the eighth month of pregnancy and at the ninth, the so-called begins to produce colostrum, the precursor of real milk. It is a yellowish liquid produced by the mammary glands in the last months of pregnancy. After delivery, during the first five or six days, breast milk begins to change its composition, in view of the new nutritional needs of the newborn: transition milk reduces its quantity of proteins and mineral salts, and increases the percentage of sugars and lipids. Fifteen days after giving birth, the milk has reached a standard composition, which will be maintained until weaning. Mature milk, as it is defined, is rich in lipids and carbohydrates, but with a lower percentage of proteins and mineral salts. The baby benefits from breast milk in all its phases: colostrum is healthy for the baby's liver, intestines and immune system. Antibodies are in fact acquired by the baby through milk, especially during the first six months. because at birth it does not have a complete immune system. Furthermore, breast milk prevents the baby from developing diseases or dysfunctions such as diabetes, obesity, allergies, gastrointestinal problems.

How to increase the production of breast milk?

The first thing to know about breast milk production is that the baby's continuous sucking stimulates the production of new milk. This means that increasing the number of feedings increases the milk production. It is therefore useless to think in terms of "stocks", because the greater the consumption, the greater the natural production. Rather, it is good to learn how to store breast milk to create external supplies. Before storing it, however, there are other methods and tips on how to increase its production. Here are the main ones:

• never deny a feed to the baby by making him "wait"
• do not count the number of feedings, give him each time he asks for it
• do not give the baby water if breastfeeding is exclusive and you are not weaning
• relax, calmer and less stress increase milk production
• control the position for breastfeeding, latch on and sucking: it is the most strategic method, the right position of the baby during feeding helps to empty the breast better, promoting new milk production. The ideal position for breastfeeding is sitting very comfortably, with your back and arm supported by an armrest. By supporting the baby's head with your arm, you need a support so as not to get tired and not to disturb the flow of milk sucking. The legs are relaxed and well placed on the ground, the hand around the breast, to offer it to the baby, must be "cupped": the baby's head is straight and facing the nipple, so that the baby's mouth is aligned with the otherwise. The baby's mouth should be able to encompass both the nipple and a portion of the breast

Breast milk: refrigeration or freezing?

Now that you know how to increase its production, it's time to figure out how to best preserve this breast milk produced in quantity. The ideal storage method is freezing in the refrigerator. After having extracted small quantities of milk with the breast pump, pour it into special, sterile bottles. You can find them in pharmacies or childcare shops, the same ones where you can also find the breast pump. The bottles of milk should have a label on which to write the date of extraction. Once this milk is stored, you can keep it in the refrigerator or freezer, depending on the time that will pass until you need it. For more immediate consumption, for For example, you can keep it in the fridge, in the coldest part, avoiding the fridge door where drinks are usually put in. It is important never to mix cold milk from the fridge with a new, warmer amount, extracted with the breast pump just before. If, on the other hand, you need to defrost the milk, here are the steps to follow:

• take the bottles to thaw and put them in the fridge, leaving 24 hours for them to defrost on their own, but in the fridge, not outside. In this way all the nutritional properties of the milk will remain intact
• do not defrost or heat the milk in the microwave or in boiling water, otherwise the nutritional values ​​will be lost
• to stir the milk, swirl it gently, without shaking the bottle
• do not mix the thawed milk
• to heat the well thawed milk, keep the bottle under hot water, which does not, however, exceed 37 degrees