Did you know Mother's Own Milk Provides More Than Just Nutrition?

By: Susan Campbell, MD, IBCLC, Medical Director of Mothers' Milk Bank Southeast

When most people think about breast milk, they think of nutrition.

As our understanding of lactation continues to evolve, research is reveals that breast milk is one of the most biologically sophisticated substances the human body produces. It is rich with immune cells, antibodies, hormones, growth factors, beneficial bacteria, and countless bioactive compounds that work together to support infant health in remarkable ways.

I want to share a recently published study that further reinforces the remarkable benefits of a mother's milk. The findings demonstrate its ability to reduce pain in neonates, underscoring that human milk is not only optimal nutrition but also an important therapeutic intervention that supports infant comfort and care during painful procedures.

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Featured Study:

Bertol, A.B., Vijendra, B., Aquino Gil de Freitas, P.H. et al. The analgesic effects of human milk odor in preterm neonates: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Perinatol 46, 519–525 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-025-02432-9

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Every new discovery deepens our appreciation for why human milk matters and strengthens our commitment to ensuring that vulnerable infants have access to this life-saving resource.

At Mothers' Milk Bank Southeast, we celebrate every new discovery not because it changes what we believe, but because it continues to explain why human milk has been so extraordinary all along.