Mother's milk contains nucleotides, chemical substances, which are used to make DNA. These substances are believed to play a key role in child development. Their concentration in milk increases in the first weeks after birth.

They are also kown to induce sleep.

Scientists have discovered that concentration of nucleotide in maternal milk is at a maximum at the beginning of the night in the milk of mothers who have been breastfeeding for over 3 monthes. Along the night, nucleotide concentration decreases and it is much lower during day time.

Mothers who express their milk during day time to give it to their baby at night may be preparing for a sleepless night!

Studies have shown that babies fed with artificial milk had more difficulty to fall asleep that breastfed babies. After more research, nucleotides were added to this artificial baby milk. Children who drank milk with nucleotides between 6 pm and 6 am fell asleep more rapidely than those who had classical artificial milk.

Benefits of maternal milk are indisputable and year after year, scientific discoveries keep increasing the list.

Here are a few of these benefits:

- It contains essential substances for the child development.

- It contains hundreds of active components, which are efficient to protect the child against diseases as well as against allergies.

- Milk's composition varies to adapt to the child's need, Right after birth, it contains natural analgesics called beta-endorphins.

As the child grows, it contains more and more nutritious subtsances,

This text was inspired by an article published in New Scientist, you can read the full length article here :

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17908-evening-breast-milk-means-a-good-sleep.html