Colostrum For Mothers
Colos
trum For Mothers Colost
rum is the first milk your breasts produce in the early days
of breastfeeding. This special milk is low in fat, and high in
carbohydrates, protein, and antibodies to help keep your baby
healthy. It is extremely easy to digest, and is therefore the
perfect first food for your baby. It is low in volume but high
in concentrated nutrition for the newborn. Colostrum has a
laxative effect on the baby, helping him pass his early stools,
which aids in the excretion of excess bilirubin and helps
prevent jaundice. When your baby is breastfed early and often,
your breasts will begin producing mature milk around the third
or fourth day after birth. Your milk will then increase in
volume and will generally begin to appear thinner and lighter in
color. In those first few days it is extremely important to
breastfeed your newborn at least 9-12 times in 24 hours-- and
more often is even better. This allows your baby to get all the
benefits of the colostrum and also stimulates production of a
plentiful supply of mature milk. Frequent breastfeeding also
helps prevent engorgement.Your colostrum provides not only
perfect nutrition tailored to the needs of your newborn, but
also large amounts of living cells which will defend your baby
against many harmful agents. The concentration of immune factors
is much higher in colostrum than in mature milk. Colostrum
actually works as a natural and 100% safe vaccine. It contains
large quantities of an antibody called secretory immunoglobulin
A (IgA) which is a new substance to the newborn. Before your
baby was born, he received the benefit of another antibody,
called IgG, through your placenta. IgG worked through the baby's
circulatory system, but IgA protects the baby in the places most
likely to come under attack from germs, namely the mucous
membranes in the throat, lungs, and intestines. Colostrum has an
especially important role to play in the baby's gastrointestinal
tract. A newborn's intestines are very permeable. Colostrum
seals the holes by "painting" the gastrointestinal tract with a
barrier which mostly prevents foreign substances from
penetrating and possibly sensitizing a baby to foods the mother
has eaten. Colostrum also contains high concentrations of
leukocytes, protective white cells which can destroy
disease-causing bacteria and viruses. Later, when you are
producing mature milk for your baby, the concentrations of the
antibodies in the milk will be lower, but your baby will be
taking in much higher volumes of milk. The disease-fighting
properties of human milk do not disappear with the colostrum. In
fact, as long as your baby receives your milk, he will receive
immunological protection against many different viruses and
bacteria.