How someone feeds their baby is a very personal decision that is influenced by the body, birth outcomes and overall health, adoption or surrogacy, lifestyle and other responsibilities, and personal preferences.
There are so many different opinions about the “right” way to feed a baby, but in the end it’s “best.” This means that not only is the baby’s nutritional needs met, but parents have systems and tools to support their own needs.
Currently, the main sources of milk for feeding infants come from nursing, pumping and bottle feeding. Donor milk is used for bottle feeding, formulas, or combinations of these. However, new scientific developments can change the game when it comes to feeding a baby – breast milk grown in the lab.
The science of breast milk
Breast milk, or breast milk for those who prefer gender neutral terms, is a very wonderful superfood. The human body is extremely intelligent and adapts to the needs of a baby through the nursing journey.
Fed is the best and there’s no shame in feeding your baby in any way that works for you, the study Supports the benefits of breast milk for babies.
Breast milk helped to build a healthy immune system for babies, and newborns who received colostrum (first milk) had reduced respiratory and gastrointestinal infections in the first few weeks of life. Breast milk also has a positive effect on neurodevelopment in both infants and born people.
Why is breast milk so beneficial? It’s full of vitamins and nutrients. Breast milk is mainly made with water (87%), carbohydrates (7%), lipids (4%) and protein (1%), as well as trace amounts of essential minerals and vitamins. Nutritional content and antibodies vary depending on the age of the baby and the infections the baby or breastfeeding parent has.
If mammal milk offers so many benefits, why do people not choose milk from other animals while using formula? milkFor example, it is not safe for your baby to drink because it has too many minerals and proteins for the baby’s kidneys to process while the baby is lacking in the nutrients it needs.
Can I breastfeed in the lab?
Donated milk is a great option for those who want to feed their baby’s milk but can’t or don’t want to breastfeed them themselves, but it’s not accessible to anyone. It is one of the driving forces behind companies like Biomilq and TurtletreeDevelops alternative milk sources that offer the same benefits as breast milk.
If you are familiar with lab-grown meat, which has become increasingly popular in recent years, lab-grown milk is also produced in the same way. Lab-grown meat is created by growing animal cells and then harvested before heading to the plate. Meanwhile, lab-grown milk keeps them healthy and fully fed to make use of human breast cells to allow them to be secreted and directed towards the baby’s bottle.
Where did these breast cells come from? In the case of Biomilq, over 70 women from all different backgrounds and lactating stages donated breast milk. The researchers then isolated the cells that formed the basis of the product.
What is the difference between lab milk and formula?
Many babies use formulas that do not have negative health outcomes. Let’s be clear – there’s nothing inherently wrong with the formula, but it’s difficult to get the same nutritional benefits you do from breast milk.
According to the Biomilq website, “Human breast cells can produce ingredients found only in breast milk, making them unique beneficial to the human body.” Therefore, these companies cannot replicate breast milk completely, but their products contain many ingredients found in human breast milk, including complex sugars, fats, proteins, and all the breast milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) found in breast milk.
On the other hand, this milk does not have the antibodies or microorganisms present in breastfeeding parents’ milk, which is very useful for the infant’s immune system and gut health.
Still, lab-grown milk offers much more nutritional benefits to babies than formula. Formula has come a long way in recent years, but is still lacking in nutrition compared to breast milk. It is also important to note that most formulas are based on cows, or in some cases goat milk.
We are all mammals, but infants have different nutritional needs. For example, the HMO mentioned earlier is inherent to breast milk and plays a major role in protecting you from infections and overall development. Babies with only formulas can miss some of these nutrients.
Lab-grown breast milk is also a more environmentally friendly option than cow-based formulas. Formulas require large amounts of water to manufacture, and often contains palm oil, an industry that costs great global sacrifices.
How to get milk to grow labs for babies
Breastfeeding is one of the best options for babies, but for some reason, not all parents want or can breastfeed their children. Again, this is a personal decision that is influenced by so many factors. Still, you want the best option possible for your baby, both working in your lifestyle.
Donor milk is, rather, a great option for parents who feed their baby, but it is not always accessible. Donor milk is not available in all cities, or even countries, and private donors are often unregulated and expensive (yes, people pay for breast milk).
As of early 2023, lab-grown breast milk is still not available to consumers, but researchers are approaching the launch of the product. There are many regulations manufacturers must follow, especially when developing guidelines for clinical trials and new products in infants.
Fingers crossed the fingers that these products will soon be available and there are even more options when it comes to feeding babies!
