What is Colostrum?
Colostrum is the first of milk that is produced after you give birth. What makes colostrum different than the traditional milk is its colour, consistency and composition. It is filled with nutrients and antibodies that that is good and necessary for your baby.
What is the difference between Colostrum and the Traditional Milk?
There are three phases of breast milk and the first is colostrum. Second comes transitional milk and the then the last is matured milk.
Referred to as the complex biological liquid, Colostrum is thicker than mature breast milk. It is made up of water, minerals, fat droplets, Lymphocytes and residual materials in the breast. Researchers say, that colostrum also contain Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Protein, fat soluble vitamins and minerals.
Higher in proteins and slightly low in sugar and also consequently low in fat as compared to traditional milk, colostrum is first step towards your baby’s healthy immune system. As compared to mature milk, colostrum is also good for baby’s immature gastrointestinal systems to digest.
Colostrum is meant to provide essential nutrients to the baby. In addition to that the liquid also contains antimicrobial amino acid chains that balance the intestinal microbiota, Immune- regulating compounds that helps strengthening the body’s defence and growth stimulating proteins.
Benefits of Colostrum for the Baby
There are many colostrum benefits that are important for your baby’s healthy growth
- Establishes healthy bacteria in the gut
Because an in-utero baby receives nutrition through the umbilical cord, which connects directly to the bloodstream, their gastrointestinal system is essentially sterile at birth. Colostrum—and, subsequently, transitional and mature breast milk—provides immunoglobulins and bifidus bacteria to help them create an appropriate gut micro biome (or bacterial balance) for ideal digestion and health down the road.
- It delivers essential nutrients
After living for 9 months in their mother’s wombs, the baby comes out with their own appetite, as it is a lot hard work they have to put to adjust in a strange world that’s not a womb. Colostrum which is dense in Calories, fills their tiny belly and provides them with all the necessary nourishment.
- Colostrum supports the immune system
The moment your baby comes out, it is very vulnerable and susceptible to numerous infections as their immune system is not fully developed and that’s where colostrum steps in as the superhero and protector for the baby. Colostrum is a concentrated source of immunoprotective factors that provide your baby with all the nourishment and essential protection it needs.
The immunoprotective factors present in the colostrum comprise of antibodies, pre- biotics, probiotics, and white blood cells. None of these factors are present in the formula milk and hence colostrum protect the baby from illness.
Colostrum plays a crucial part in your baby’s digestive system. Newborns have a leaky gut, which means that hazardous things from the environment can easily enter and injure them.
Colostrum helps to form a protective barrier in your baby’s intestines, preventing hazardous substances from entering. This protects your infant from multiple food sensitivities.
- Laxative effect
Laxative effect that is provided by the colostrum initially helps in easing the passage of the stools for your baby. This helps to prevent jaundice by removing excess bilirubin.
How long does it lasts after childbirth
Your breast will produce colostrum for three to four days after giving birth to your baby. After 5th day, the colostrum will be replaced with milk which is more in volume and thinner and whiter in appearance.
How much Colostrum is enough for the Baby?
Your baby just needs 2-4 teaspoons of colostrum each day as their stomach only needs that much of milk. Your baby’s stomach is only a size of marble and it grows each day slowly.
Your breast provides the right amount of colostrum required for your baby. You just need to ensure that you breastfeed your baby whenever required to help your milk supply start strong.
Risks of not breastfeeding your Baby
Not breastfeeding your baby can put them at increased risks of getting infections
- Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
- Leukaemia
- Infections like otitis media, gastroenteritis, urinary infection, pneumonia etc
- Food Allergies
- Childhood obesity or malnutrition
- Premature babies that do not get enough breastmilk are associated with an elevated risk of necrotizing enterocolitis.
Risks for mothers due to lack of breastfeeding
- Premenopausal breast cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Retained gestational weight
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Metabolic syndrome
Conclusion
Colostrum is important for both mothers and the Babies. It is very crucial that first few feedings of your baby are colostrum. If you are able to directly breastfeed your baby due to some medical reasons try expressing a bit of your own colostrum.
For your baby’s healthy growth, colostrum is their first feed towards better life.