A baby’s sucking determines the quantity of milk that is produced (1).
Some of the ingredients in human milk are present in constant proportions for all breastfeeding mothers and at every feed. Others may vary as a result of the maternal diet (1).
We know, for example, that the type of fat in the maternal diet is closely related to the type of fat in the breastmilk, although the caloric content of human milk is fairly consistent (1).
Breastfeeding on cue ensures that the baby will receive all he needs within the day in order to grow well and remain healthy (1).
A breastmilk is a combination of all the foods that the mother eats, completing them with nutrients stored in her body. If the mother’s diet is not adequate, it is her body that makes up the difference (1).
What this means is that mother’s milk is made every time (1).
If she is malnourished, this means that her body has to make up for the lack of nutrients in her diet when it produces the milk for her child. It has been seen that even in cases bordering on malnutrition in poor countries, the milk produced by these mothers satisfies the needs of the child, who will grow adequately if he is breastfed on cue (1).
A baby first tastes this food via the amniotic fluid before birth and later, through his mother’s milk (1).
The information contained in this site is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of any doctor or health care provider. I encourage you to discuss with your doctor any questions or concerns you may have.
Last Updated August 2017
1. http://www.llli.org/nb/nbmarapr04p44.html