Breast milk is the just the thing needed as food for your baby because it is exactly formulated to fill all of his / her dietary requirements. An additional advantage of mother's milk to the baby is the enhanced level of immunity. Throughout the initial few days following the delievery period, your milk will be thick, yellow, sticky fluid known as colostrum. This fluid provides antibodies that help protect your baby. Your milk will change as your baby grows and the levels of nutrients and fat in your milk will vary as per your baby's needs. Since the volume of breast milk is determined by demand, your body will involuntarily enhance or reduce baby milk's production as per the changing demands of your baby.

Even though there are a a small number of ailments that can be passed through milk (HIV and AIDS being the most worrisome), you need not fret regarding the infection caused by colds or other illnesses via your milk.

The nutrient levels and the available calories are often adequate for "older" or "bigger" premature babies, and for many other high-risk babies. However, lower nutrient levels and the "full-term" calorie count in human milk may create problems for the low birthweight baby who weighed 3 pounds, 5 ounces (1,500 grams) or less at birth, or for babies with certain health conditions affecting digestion or the use of nutrients. These babies may not get enough of the minerals, such as calcium, phosphorous, and iron from their mothers' milk alone. They also may need additional calories.

Although your milk is best, it is not always complete with the nutritional needs of very small premature babies or some very sick newborns. Fortunately, adding to, or "fortifying," a mother's milk does not appear to diminish the nutritional and anti-infective benefits your baby will gain from receiving your milk, and may help to better provide the nutrition your baby needs.