5 Surprising Facts About Your Breastmilk

breastmilk facts

by Stephanie Spencer |
Updated on

Choosing to breastfeed is a very personal decision. There is lots of information about the benefits and it is also pretty convenient given it is always readily available and always the right temperature, however some clever scientists and lactation experts have revealed some other remarkable facts about the wonder of your breastmilk.

1. Ready to Go

It's the ultimate all-in-one meal and, amazingly, your body produces the right nutrients and volume of milk to match your baby's needs and developmental stage. Smart, huh?

2. Packed with Nutrients

If you thought five-a-day was enough to pack into your daily diet, check what a breastfeeding baby gets. Recent research has shown that there are 415 individual proteins in breast milk. This is the ultimate high-protein diet. This discovery certainly tells us more about the significant role breastmilk has on infant growth and development.

3. Super Cells

Ready for some science? Your breast milk contains stem cells, which have the ability to become a load of different type of cells in the body. Stem cells are like gold dust to medical research – if you want to donate – and there's hope that their presence in breast milk could mean they'll also be boosting your baby's development.

4. Taste Test

You may not even be at the weaning stage, but breastfeeding is a great time to educate your baby's palate. 'We are all aware that what we eat is transferred to baby during a breastfeed which is of great benefit, but to learn that this transfer also potentially supports the infant to learn about tastes and flavour adds another dimension to the power of breast milk,' says Sioned Hilton from Medela.

5. Brilliant for Bonding

Breastfeeding is a great way to bond with your baby. Not only are you providing your baby with all the nutrients she needs, that all important cuddle time and skin-to-skin contact is a great way to find that mum-baby connection. What's not to love?

This article is brought to you with support from the best in breastfeeding, Medela, supporting mums to continue with their individual breastfeeding experiences and help them to feed for as long as they wish.

Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us
How we write our articles and reviews
Mother & Baby is dedicated to ensuring our information is always valuable and trustworthy, which is why we only use reputable resources such as the NHS, reviewed medical papers, or the advice of a credible doctor, GP, midwife, psychotherapist, gynaecologist or other medical professionals. Where possible, our articles are medically reviewed or contain expert advice. Our writers are all kept up to date on the latest safety advice for all the products we recommend and follow strict reporting guidelines to ensure our content comes from credible sources. Remember to always consult a medical professional if you have any worries. Our articles are not intended to replace professional advice from your GP or midwife.