Scientific Knowledge

Breast milk is the ideal nutrition for babies because it contains all the nutrients the baby needs for the first six months of life and helps them to grow up healthy. To support professionals like lactation consultants and medical staff in their work with expecting and new mums, we have compiled several articles on breastfeeding and breast milk.

Featured

A mum holds her baby and has a snack while wearing her Medela Freestyle™ Hands-free double electric breast pump.

Breastfeeding

Time to read: 1 min.

Benefits of breast milk

The Economic Value of Human Milk in Preventing Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Time to read: 4 min.

Benefits of breast milk

Optimizing milk removal: Insights from human milk and lactation research with Dr. Danielle Prime

Time to read: 2 min.

Research & literature

Understanding Early Weaning: New Insights from Breastfeeding Medicine’s July 2025 Special Issue

Time to read: 1 min.

A close-up of a mum breastfeeding her baby.

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding attachment

A woman talking with text "The top 5 tips to know when your baby is getting enough milk"

Breastfeeding

Reasons for low milk supply

Close-up of a mum breastfeeding her baby.

Breastfeeding

Reasons for blocked ducts

A nurse gives a mother information about mastitis.

Breastfeeding

Mastitis

A mum uses the Medela Symphony® breast pump to manage her physiological breast engorgement.

Breastfeeding

Physiological engorgement

Close-up of a nursing baby.

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding positions

Newborn baby initiating breastfeeding with mother in hospital

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding the newborn

A picture of Dr Jacqueline Kent

Breastfeeding

What is the range of ‘normal’ when it comes to breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding

Calling First Responders

A woman sits at a computer doing research.

Breastfeeding

Antenatal Lactation Risk Screening and Early Milk Sodium Monitoring: A Proactive Approach to Improve Breastfeeding Outcomes

A mother breastfeeds her baby. To their right is a diagram and text describing the process of breast milk coming in, from stimulus to ejection.

Benefits of breast milk

The benefits of breastfeeding

Benefits of breast milk

Benefits of human milk

Drops of water and oil with colors

Benefits of breast milk

Medications and breastfeeding

A mother gets advice from a nurse at the hospital on using the Symphony® breast pump.

Benefits of breast milk

At-risk conditions for initiation

Benefits of breast milk

The Economic Value of Human Milk in Preventing Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Benefits of breast milk

Optimizing milk removal: Insights from human milk and lactation research with Dr. Danielle Prime

A premature baby in the NICU experiencing with feeding challenges.

Special needs

Feeding development solutions for neonatal intensive care

A mom breastfeeding her baby and supplementing the diet using Medela's Supplemental Nursing System™ (SNS).

Special needs

Feeding a special needs baby

Pumping

Infant suction patterns and pumping: Peak vacuum and comfort for optimal milk removal

A nurse gives a mother information about mastitis.

Pumping

Initiating breast milk supply

Two women in a hospital with breast milk in storage bottles in a Medela Cooler Bag.

Pumping

Storing and thawing breast milk

Pumping

Advancing Breastfeeding Outcomes: The Clinical Impact of Symphony PLUS®

Freestyle™ Mini double electric Breast Pump

Pumping

Breast Shield Sizing: Why We Recommend Starting at 4 mm larger than Nipple Diameter

A mum breastfeeding her baby while it faces her.

NICU

Ensure a successful transition from hospital to home

A green, blue and black illustration representing stem cells. Image from Medela article "Stem cells in breast milk".

Research & literature

Stem cells in breast milk

A photo of Paula P. Meier.

Research & literature

The value of human milk

A mom pumping with a rented Medela Symphony PLUS® breast pump in the comfort of her living room.

Research & literature

Double pumping

A graphic illustration on the anatomy of a lactating breast.

Research & literature

Anatomy of the lactating breast

Icon showing lifestages of a human: infant, toddler, child, teen, adult, parent of baby, parent of toddler, retirement, elderly

Research & literature

Research is in Medela’s DNA

Side view anatomy of baby's mouth while nursing on mother's breast.

Research & literature

The science of infant sucking

Research & literature

Understanding Early Weaning: New Insights from Breastfeeding Medicine’s July 2025 Special Issue

Research & literature

Optimizing milk removal: Insights from human milk and lactation research with Dr. Danielle Prime

A close-up of a mum breastfeeding her baby.

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding attachment

A woman talking with text "The top 5 tips to know when your baby is getting enough milk"

Breastfeeding

Reasons for low milk supply

A woman sits at a computer doing research.

Breastfeeding

Antenatal Lactation Risk Screening and Early Milk Sodium Monitoring: A Proactive Approach to Improve Breastfeeding Outcomes

Close-up of a mum breastfeeding her baby.

Breastfeeding

Reasons for blocked ducts

A nurse gives a mother information about mastitis.

Breastfeeding

Mastitis

A mum uses the Medela Symphony® breast pump to manage her physiological breast engorgement.

Breastfeeding

Physiological engorgement

Close-up of a nursing baby.

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding positions

Newborn baby initiating breastfeeding with mother in hospital

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding the newborn

A picture of Dr Jacqueline Kent

Breastfeeding

What is the range of ‘normal’ when it comes to breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding

Calling First Responders

A mother breastfeeds her baby. To their right is a diagram and text describing the process of breast milk coming in, from stimulus to ejection.

Benefits of breast milk

The benefits of breastfeeding

Benefits of breast milk

Benefits of human milk

Drops of water and oil with colors

Benefits of breast milk

Medications and breastfeeding

A mother gets advice from a nurse at the hospital on using the Symphony® breast pump.

Benefits of breast milk

At-risk conditions for initiation

Benefits of breast milk

The Economic Value of Human Milk in Preventing Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Benefits of breast milk

Optimizing milk removal: Insights from human milk and lactation research with Dr. Danielle Prime

A premature baby in the NICU experiencing with feeding challenges.

Special needs

Feeding development solutions for neonatal intensive care

A mom breastfeeding her baby and supplementing the diet using Medela's Supplemental Nursing System™ (SNS).

Special needs

Feeding a special needs baby

Pumping

Infant suction patterns and pumping: Peak vacuum and comfort for optimal milk removal

A nurse gives a mother information about mastitis.

Pumping

Initiating breast milk supply

Two women in a hospital with breast milk in storage bottles in a Medela Cooler Bag.

Pumping

Storing and thawing breast milk

Pumping

Advancing Breastfeeding Outcomes: The Clinical Impact of Symphony PLUS®

Freestyle™ Mini double electric Breast Pump

Pumping

Breast Shield Sizing: Why We Recommend Starting at 4 mm larger than Nipple Diameter

A mum breastfeeding her baby while it faces her.

NICU

Ensure a successful transition from hospital to home

A green, blue and black illustration representing stem cells. Image from Medela article "Stem cells in breast milk".

Research & literature

Stem cells in breast milk

A photo of Paula P. Meier.

Research & literature

The value of human milk

Research & literature

Optimizing milk removal: Insights from human milk and lactation research with Dr. Danielle Prime

A mom pumping with a rented Medela Symphony PLUS® breast pump in the comfort of her living room.

Research & literature

Double pumping

A graphic illustration on the anatomy of a lactating breast.

Research & literature

Anatomy of the lactating breast

Icon showing lifestages of a human: infant, toddler, child, teen, adult, parent of baby, parent of toddler, retirement, elderly

Research & literature

Research is in Medela’s DNA

Side view anatomy of baby's mouth while nursing on mother's breast.

Research & literature

The science of infant sucking

Research & literature

Understanding Early Weaning: New Insights from Breastfeeding Medicine’s July 2025 Special Issue

One doctor smiling at camera other doctor looking at a chart.

Discover in-depth courses at Medela University

We invite you to explore Medela University where you will find online courses for healthcare professionals on breastfeeding & lactation. We also offer a number of free webinars.

Visit Medela University