Understanding the composition and properties of breast milk helps dispel many unfounded and counterproductive myths about breastfeeding, allows for evidence-based recommendations, and gives mothers back awareness and full confidence in their abilities.<\/p>\n
For example, it is absolutely not true that colostrum is insufficient or lacks the nutrients needed by a newborn. It contains everything required to support healthy development in the first days of life. Supplementing it with formula milk or glucose solution would interfere with the initiation of breastfeeding. If the baby is allowed to stay with the mother and nurse whenever they wish, without fixed schedules, it is the baby who triggers the milk coming in through frequent suckling.<\/p>\n
In the days and months that follow, through the same mechanism, the baby regulates milk production according to their needs: the hungrier they are, the more frequently they nurse, and the more they stimulate the breast to produce.<\/p>\n
In the first 2\u20134 days after birth, a baby loses up to 10% of their initial weight. This is known as the physiological weight loss,<\/strong> a natural phenomenon observed in all healthy, full-term, breastfed babies. It should not be a cause for concern: it does not mean the baby is undernourished. Over the following days, the lost weight is naturally regained, with the baby typically returning to their birth weight by the second week of life(4)<\/sup>.<\/p>\n Another normal phenomenon that should not cause concern is the fact that, during the first few weeks, the baby often seems to be constantly hungry and frequently asks to nurse. Does this mean the mother\u2019s milk is not nutritious enough? Absolutely not: the newborn has a small stomach and can only hold a small amount of milk at each feeding. To meet their daily energy needs, they may nurse as often as 10\u201312 times in 24 hours.<\/strong> Some babies feed quickly and are satisfied in just a few minutes, while others are slower and need more time, spending longer at the breast. Their feeding patterns are physiological, and it is important to respond to them.<\/p>\n\t\t