Scientists have found that the milk mothers produce can vary in content and quantity depending on the baby's gender, ABC Science reports. For instance, more liquid is often produced for girls, whereas boys get a substance that's richer in fat or protein.
Although there may be slight nutritional differences in the milk produced for boys versus girls, Kish says that there is no reason to tailor breast feeding practices to specific genders. "There is no difference in how you approach breastfeeding boys or girls.
Mothers produced more milk overall for females, and over the course of their breast feeding, they received the same amount of fat as the males. "The recipes for milk for sons and daughters may be different, and the difference may be greater depending on where the mother is at in her reproductive career," said Hinde.
Variations in milk
All breast milk is not created equal: It can vary in levels of proteins, fats, sugars, hormones and other components. But breast milk doesn't just differ from mother to mother. It can also differ when the same mother nurses different babies, and across the span of an infant's development.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that differences in the milk output from the right and left breasts are common, and that milk output is often greater from the right breast.
Colostrum is high in protein, fat-soluble vitamins, minerals, and immunoglobulins. Immunoglobulins are antibodies that pass from the mother to the baby and provide passive immunity for the baby. Passive immunity protects the baby from a wide variety of bacterial and viral illnesses.
Is watery breast milk good for your baby? In a word, yes. Both fatty milk and watery/less fatty milk are good for your baby, and it's important that your baby gets both. (Think about when you're eating a meal – most of the time, you want both substance to fill you up and a drink to stay hydrated.
Kissing your baby will change your breast milk
When you kiss your baby, you are sampling the pathogens on her skin, which are then transferred to your lymphatic system where you will produce antibodies to any bugs. These antibodies will then pass through your breast milk to your baby and boost her immune system.
Evidence from animal models (Table 1) suggests that infant sex is a predictive determinant of maternal milk composition. Primate [41,42,43] and bovine [44] models have demonstrated that mothers produce different milk for male and female singleton offspring.
Elisabeth has hyperlactation syndrome, which means she is a mass producer of breast milk. She creates 1.75 gallons of breast milk a day! Not everyone can produce enough milk to feed their baby, which is why Elisabeth has donated over 700 gallons, more than TWICE the world record.
Lactation begins as early as a few weeks into the second trimester of your pregnancy. As estrogen and progesterone levels rise, your body prepares for lactation by increasing the number of milk ducts in your breasts, and those milk ducts will transport milk from the alveoli to your nipples.
Generally, boys do need more calories than girls, especially as they get older. But not as much as their appetites might suggest.
Breastfeeding Recommendations
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): Recommends breastfeeding exclusively for 6 months, then breastfeeding in addition to the start of solid foods for at least 2 years.
But they say this crankiness in babies is normal and just their natural way of communicating their needs to their mother and is no cause for alarm. For example, some cries will be down to tiredness not hunger.
Babytalk | A baby's bond with its mother may start with the sense of smell. One of my favorite things to do is show mothers how their baby can smell them from as far away as 1 to 2 feet.
Myth: Babies who have been breastfed are clingy.
All babies are different. Some are clingy and some are not, no matter how they are fed. Breastfeeding provides not only the best nutrition for infants, but is also important for their developing brain.
It's important not to give a baby thickened feeds unless advised by a doctor. Since gastro-oesophageal reflux disease can be associated with medical problems, exclusive breastfeeding (i.e. without any thickeners, etc) is advisable whenever medically possible.
Despite views to the contrary, breasts are never truly empty. Milk is actually produced nonstop—before, during, and after feedings—so there's no need to wait between feedings for your breasts to refill.
Breastmilk or infant formula should be your baby's main source of nutrition for around the first year of life. Health professionals recommend exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, with a gradual introduction of appropriate foods in the second 6 months and ongoing breastfeeding for 2 years or beyond.
If you're pumping for a freezer stash or to store milk for a future separation from your baby, try pumping shortly after you finish nursing – maybe 15 to 30 minutes. That way, your body will have an hour and a half or so to replenish breast milk for your next nursing session.