human milk
Infant's first food
Human milk is the milk produced by a woman's mammary glands, specifically designed to nourish human infants.
It contains antibodies, nutrients, and other compounds that support infant development and immune function in ways that formula cannot fully replicate.
The term appears most often in medical and scientific contexts, where it is preferred over the more familiar breast milk.
Human milk banks collect and distribute donated milk to infants whose mothers cannot provide it.
Lactation-based infant nourishment
- nursingMedical caretaking profession
- letdownFailure to satisfy expectations
- engorgementOverfilling causing swelling
- mastitisMammary gland infection
pump · expression · colostrum · prolactin · oxytocin · weaning · breast pump · lactation consultant
Lactation-based infant nourishment
- nursingMedical caretaking profession
- newbornInfant just delivered
- sucklingUnweaned infant mammal
- colostrumInitial postpartum milk
bonding · nurture · growth · development · immunity · antibodies · cradle · caregiver
Initial postpartum milk
- antibodiesProteins targeting pathogens
- proteinsAmino acid polymers
- fatsOily organic nutrients
- carbohydratesSugar-based energy compounds
lactose · calcium · vitamins · minerals · omega-3 · enzymes · hormones · growth factors
Forming close connections
- motherhoodState of being a female parent
- nurturingSupportive care-giving
- postpartumAfter childbirth period
- attachmentConnection or fondness
caregiving · affection · nourish · maternity · tenderness · skin-to-skin · empathy · protection
breastfeeding
Lactation-based infant nourishment
- nursingMedical caretaking profession
- letdownFailure to satisfy expectations
- engorgementOverfilling causing swelling
mastitis · pump · expression · colostrum · prolactin · oxytocin · weaning · breast pump · lactation consultant · foremilk
breastfeeding
Lactation-based infant nourishment
colostrum · bonding · nurture · growth · development · immunity · antibodies · cradle · caregiver · pediatrics
colostrum
Initial postpartum milk
- antibodiesProteins targeting pathogens
- proteinsAmino acid polymers
- fatsOily organic nutrients
carbohydrates · lactose · calcium · vitamins · minerals · omega-3 · enzymes · hormones · growth factors · immunoglobulins
bonding
Forming close connections
- motherhoodState of being a female parent
- nurturingSupportive care-giving
- postpartumAfter childbirth period
attachment · caregiving · affection · nourish · maternity · tenderness · skin-to-skin · empathy · protection · comfort
donation
Voluntary charitable gift
- donorOne who contributes freely
- pasteurizationThermal pathogen elimination process
- screeningEvaluative selection process
storage · freezing · recipient · premature · NICU · sharing · pooling · processing · testing · sterilization