What's in breast milk?

Breast milk is an exceptional food containing almost everything your baby needs in the first months. Its composition is roughly:

• Water: Most of the milk is water, which is why there's no need to give additional water.
• Carbohydrates: Lactose (milk sugar) is the brain's main energy source and increases calcium absorption.
• Fats: The most concentrated energy source for the baby; contains long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (DHA, ARA) necessary for brain and nervous system development.
• Proteins: Whey protein is predominant; this makes digestion easier and doesn't strain the stomach. It also carries infection-fighting antibodies (especially IgA), lysozyme, and lactoferrin—immune system components.
• Vitamins and minerals: Vitamins A, C, D, E, K, and B group vitamins; minerals like zinc, iron, calcium, and magnesium. Iron and zinc absorption from breast milk is much higher than from cow's milk.
• Immune factors: Live cells (macrophages, lymphocytes), antibodies, and probiotic-effect oligosaccharides (HMOs)—these regulate your baby's intestinal flora and provide protection against pathogens.
• Enzymes and hormones: Contains lipase to aid digestion, leptin to regulate growth, and prolactin and other hormones.

Breast milk even changes its composition based on your baby's growth rate, even the time of day, and the duration of breastfeeding (foremilk-hindmilk difference, daily rhythm). Formula can't quite match this.