Breast milk
Primary infant nutrition source with immune and developmental benefits.
Breast milk, also known as mother's milk, is the milk produced by the mammary glands in the breasts of humans. It serves as the primary source of nutrition for newborn infants, containing a complex and variable composition of fats, proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. Beyond basic nutrition, breast milk provides protective substances that help shield an infant against infection and inflammation. These include symbiotic bacteria and other microorganisms, as well as immunoglobulin A, all of which contribute to the healthy development of the infant's immune system and gut microbiome.
The World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend exclusive breastfeeding with breast milk for the first six months of an infant's life. After this period, nutritionally adequate and safe complementary solid foods should be introduced, as an infant's nutrient and energy needs begin to exceed what breast milk alone can provide. Breastfeeding is advised to continue up to two years of age. For exclusively breastfed newborns, breast milk is the sole source of nutrition, supplying all necessary nutrients for the first half-year. Beyond that age, it remains a significant energy source, providing over half of a child's energy needs up to one year and about a third of needs between one and two years.
Breast milk can be consumed directly from the breast or expressed using a breast pump and administered via bottle, cup, spoon, supplementation drip system, or nasogastric tube. Using cups for expressed milk and other supplements leads to improved breastfeeding outcomes compared to bottle or tube feeding. For mothers unable to produce enough milk, pasteurized donor human milk is a viable option; in its absence, commercial formula is recommended. Unpasteurized milk from a source other than the infant's mother, especially when shared informally, risks transmitting bacteria, viruses such as HIV, and other microorganisms.
Breastfeeding offers health benefits to both mother and child that extend beyond infancy. For the infant, these include proper heat production and adipose tissue development, a reduced risk of sudden infant death syndrome, increased intelligence, fewer middle ear infections, resistance to colds and flu, a slight decrease in childhood leukemia risk, lower risk of childhood-onset diabetes, and reduced likelihood of asthma, eczema, dental problems, obesity later in li
- field
- Human nutrition and infant health
- known_for
- Primary nutrition source for newborns; recommended by WHO and UNICEF for exclusive breastfeeding for first six months
- composition
- Fats, proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, symbiotic bacteria, immunoglobulin A
- recommended_duration
- Exclusive breastfeeding for first six months; continued breastfeeding up to two years
Quick Facts
- Serving Size
- 100 mL · milliter
- Kcal
- 65-78
- Carbs
- 6.7-7.8g
- Fat
- 3.2-4.8g
- Protein
- 0.8-1.4g
- Water
- 87-88g
- Vita Iu
- 220
- Thiamin Ug
- 21
- Riboflavin Ug
- 35
- Niacin Mg
- 0.15
- Vitb6 Ug
- 9-21
- Folate Ug
- 2-5
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Breast milk is a fluid produced by the mammary glands in human breasts. Its appearance varies; the first milk produced, known as colostrum, is distinct from later milk, and samples from different stages of a single pumping cycle can differ in color and consistency. The milk provides fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and a changing mix of vitamins and minerals. It also contains symbiotic bacteria, other microorganisms, and immunoglobulin A, which help protect an infant from infection and inflammation while supporting the development of the infant’s immune system and gut microbiome. Breast milk is the primary nutrition for newborns, and for exclusively breastfed infants up to six months, it supplies all necessary nutrients. Beyond that age, it continues to provide energy for children up to two years old, delivering over half of a child’s energy needs until age one and a third of needs between one and two years. The World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, followed by the addition of safe complementary foods, with continued breastfeeding recommended up to two years. This guidance stems from breast milk’s protective benefits, including fewer infections like diarrhea, a protection not offered by formula. Breastfeeding within the first hour of birth reduces infection risk and neonatal death, though globally many infants miss this window. For mothers unable to produce enough milk, pasteurized donor human milk is an option; unpasteurized milk from informal sources carries risks of transmitting bacteria and viruses.
Reader's Guide
Breast milk is significant as the sole recommended source of nutrition for infants up to six months, providing all necessary nutrients and over half of a child's energy needs up to age one. Its protective benefits include reduced infections such as diarrhea, a 73% decreased risk of sudden infant death syndrome, and lower risks of middle ear infections, childhood leukemia, asthma, eczema, obesity, and psychological disorders. For mothers, breastfeeding assists uterine recovery, reduces postpartum bleeding, and lowers the risk of breast cancer and diabetes. Despite these benefits, globally sixty percent of infants are not breastfed within the first hour of life, which protects against infections and reduces neonatal death risk. Alternatives include pasteurized donor milk or commercial formula, but unpasteurized donor milk carries infection risks. Breastfeeding can be done directly or via expressed milk using bottles, cups, or tubes, with cup feeding improving outcomes compared to bottles.
Did You Know?
- Breast milk contains symbiotic bacteria and immunoglobulin A that help protect infants against infection and inflammation.
- Globally, sixty percent of infants are not breastfed within the first hour of life, which reduces infection risk and neonatal death.
- Breastfeeding is associated with a 73% decreased risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
- Unpasteurized breast milk from a source other than the infant's mother carries risks of transmitting bacteria, viruses such as HIV, and other microorganisms.
More in Nutrition And Diet 1-22
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record