breast milk


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breast milk

Etymology: AS, braest + meoluc
human milk conferring some immunities (bronchiolitis and gastroenteritis are rare in breastfed babies). Infants fed breast milk are less likely to become obese, become constipated, and to have dental malocclusion. Compare colostrum. See also breastfeeding.
Human milk is similar to cow’s milk in water content (88%), specific gravity (1.030), fat content (3.5%), energy value (0.67 kcal/ml) and type of sugar-lactose. Breast milk has fewer minerals, certain vitamins (thiamin and riboflavin), and protein (1.0–1.5% vs. 3.3%) than cow’s milk, the latter due to a 6-fold increased in casein; it has more carbohydrates (6.5–7.0% vs. 4.5%), vitamins C and D, and equivalent amounts of vitamins A and B and niacin; it also contains bradykinin, EGF, gonadotropin-releasing hormone, IGF-I, melatonin, mammotropic growth factor, NGF, oxytocin. It is usually sterile, provides IgA, and is more easily digestible, as reflected in rapid transit time; breast-fed infants have a better response to vaccines than formula-fed infants

breast milk

Neonatology Human milk is similar to cow milk in the water content–88%, specific gravity, 1.030, fat content–3.5%, energy value–0.67 kcal/ml and type of sugar—lactose. See Breast-feeding, La Leche League; Cf Certified milk, Humanized milk, Raw milk, White beverages.

breast milk

Milk obtained from the mammary glands of the human breast. It is the ideal source of nutrition for most infants, since it contains maternal antibodies that protect the child from infection, and other substances that promote development of the brain and the gastrointestinal tract, among other organs. Human breast milk that is collected and refrigerated immediately may be used for up to 5 days. If it is collected, frozen, and stored at −17.7°C (0°F), it is safe for 6 months.

CAUTION!

breast-feeding by mothers with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is not recommended, because of the risk of transmission of HIV to the child.
See also: milk
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References in periodicals archive ?
The infants who stand to gain the most from target fortification are those fed donor breast milk, an increasingly popular option when breast milk from the infant's mother is not available.
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Women who have surplus breast milk can donate it to NHS milk banks to help premature babies.
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Dr Steele, a public health lecturer at Queen Mary University of London, said they'd been surprised by the burgeoning breast milk market.
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Abosede and Esanbodo [5] noted that the practice was culturally unacceptable to Yoruba mothers, because they perceived that breast milk could easily be contaminated, poisoned or bewitched.
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Contemporary breast milk banking is a process which utilises breast milk outside of its (socially constructed) 'natural' framework which privileges the exclusive mother child dyad, so it has the potential to be read as dangerous and threatening particularly to bodily, social and cultural boundaries.
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However, Oregon is one of just 15 states where more than half of these babies are still being fed breast milk by the time they're 6 months old.
THE GIFT OF MILK

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