Breast milk is an excellent source that can treat various minor conditions or symptoms and even help with serious diseases in a long run.
In its essence, breast milk contains hormones and the right amount of protein, sugar, fat, and most vitamins that are crucial for your baby’s growth and development. Besides, antibodies in breastmilk help fight off infections.
Did you know that a mom’s body can change the milk’s immunological composition after just one feed? Breast milk uses, as well as the benefits of breastfeeding for babies are endless! There is no other product in the entire world that can do so.
Breast milk not only has everything a baby needs at the beginning of their life, but it also protects them. First off, it prevents the baby from the mom. If a breastfeeding mom feels sick or she ate something bad, breast milk simply will not allow any germs to get in.
Nowadays, “WHO recommends mothers worldwide to exclusively breastfeed infants for the child’s first six months to achieve optimal growth, development, and health. Thereafter, they should be given nutritious complementary foods and continue breastfeeding up to the age of two years or beyond.”
Nevertheless, human breast milk has health impacts that are lifelong, with breastfeeding showing protective effects against diabetes mellitus, obesity, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, autoimmunity, and asthma.
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What is breast milk good for?
Disclosure: these tips are based on the personal experience of hundreds of parents. They won’t harm your baby by any means. However, please note, this is not medical advice. If there is a serious problem that does not disappear or appear constantly, please consult your pediatrician or healthcare provider.
Regardless of all the magic breast milk uses and qualities, it also can be used for various purposes to help overcome different conditions. Let’s take a look at what exactly breast milk can treat and help your newborn baby in their early development.
Breast milk for skin rash
Is breast milk good for skin? Once your baby is born, you may notice that they develop a slight rash or tiny pinkish pimples on their chest, back, or over their neck. This is quite common in newborn babies, especially when they get to their first contact with our environment.
Treatment: express a bit of breast milk and gently rub it onto these areas. You should see an immediate effect. In our case, the rash and pimples disappeared the next day. We expressed milk only twice, and a very thin layer was applied.
Breast milk for blocked tear duct
You may notice that your newborn baby has developed a tiny yellow discharge in the corner of one or both of their eyes. The eye may be watery too. The most common reason for that is a blocked tear duct, also known as a “sticky eye”. While it can come and go, some doctors say it can occasionally happen in the first year of a baby’s life, blocked tear ducts can also disappear for no particular reason.
Treatment: express a bit of breast milk and apply it to a problematic eye. Then gently clean it with the help of a cotton ball, or baby cotton buds.
However, what can really work is a tear duct massage. Check the instructions and video by clicking the link below.
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Chamomile is another source to provide a soothing effect on your child and their skin. It also helps during the teething stage. Check our chamomile bath recipe and list of benefits by accessing the link below.
Read More: How to make a chamomile bath for babies
Breast milk for nasal congestion or runny nose
It is easy to get sick especially if you have siblings in the house that are exposed to a nursery or school environment. A runny nose or nasal congestion is a common condition that can happen to your newborn baby. Along with baby saline nasal drops, and a humidifier or nebulizer with saline solution (to be placed near your baby and allowed them to breathe air only!), breast milk works exceptionally well.
Treatment: express a bit of breast milk into your baby’s two nostrils. You will see how effective it may be.
Breast milk for diaper rash
One of the other breast milk uses is if your baby has developed diaper rash or eczema.
Treatment: add some breast milk to soothe diaper rash and eczema in the bath. This is one of the instances where expired breast milk can be used too.
Breast milk for sore nipples
At the beginning of the breastfeeding journey, your nipples may feel quite sore, especially for the first week. Along with nipple cream, breast milk is a fantastic source to help your nipples survive unnecessary pain, or what’s worse, cracking.
Treatment: apply some extra breast milk onto your nipples before and after each feed. You need only a few drops.
Does breast milk help eczema?
If you have eczema, breast milk can help you soothe the damaged skin and prevent eczema from developing further.
Treatment: apply some extra breast milk onto the damaged skin area.
Other uses for breast milk and conditions that it can cure
- Umbilical cord separation
- Breast milk for acne
- Pink eye
- Minor scrapes
- Superficial skin wounds
- Burns
- Breast milk for cradle cap (minor)
You can even make a homemade DIY Breast Milk Face Mask or Lotion.
Most medics say breast milk is a better treatment source than any antibiotics for the above-mentioned problems. Indeed, the incredible benefits of breast milk may relieve or cure various uncomfortable symptoms of the above conditions. However, please remember to contact your pediatrician or healthcare provider and check on any major wound or infection. Sometimes antibiotics or other professional care is the right way to go to ensure full and complete recovery.
Our prefrerred and favorite items for breastfeeding
Image | Name | Buy Now | Comments |
 | Medela Breast Pump (Double Electric) | This is what we used for both our children. Although it is on a slightly expensive side, it saves your time on pumping both breasts at the same time; it is portable and can be charged via USB. | |
 | Medela Breast Pump (Single Electric) | Alternatively, you can choose single breast pump. It doesn't offer USB but battery charger. However, it comes out cheaper. | |
 | Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bag, 25 ct | These bags work out well quality-wise and financially. | |
 | Medela Quick Clean Micro-Steam Bags | We found out that investing into micro-steam bags is worth the hassle of cleaning everything manually. | |
 | Medela Purelan Lanolin Nipple Cream for Breastfeeding | We personally prefer this cream. It soothes the skin very well, and there is no need to remove it before feeding. | |
 | WYXunPlanet Breastfeeding Pillows | There is a huge variety of pillows, and it is more of a personal choice. We also love using pregnancy pillows to breastfeed. | |
 | 8 Lansinoh Reusable & Washable Nursing Pads | If you use a lot of nursing pads, we recommend to consider washable ones. | |
 | Sweet Jojo Nursing Cover | It has so many uses and gets very practical within first years of your baby's life. | |
 | Storkcraft Tuscany Custom Glider and Ottoman with Lumbar Pillow | There is nothing better than breastfeeding your child comfortably in a rocking chair. Your bag will say thank you. |
Do you know any other breast milk uses? Did breast milk help you treat any of the above-mentioned conditions? Share with us in the comments below.
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