Liquid Gold: The Many Benefits of Colostrum for Babies

Dubbed liquid gold, colostrum is oozing with unicorn and rainbow goodness. Yes, the benefits of colostrum are that good! Months before giving birth, your body actually starts producing colostrum, and this liquid will be the first thing that your baby will consume.

What is Colostrum

Colostrum is the very first thing that comes out of a mother’s breasts. It is the first milk that a pregnant woman’s body produces. It develops in the mammary glands of your breasts.

Colostrum is a thick, yellowish substance that is produced by the mother’s breasts during pregnancy and in the first few days after birth. It is different from regular breast milk in its composition and benefits.

Colostrum contains high levels of antibodies, growth factors, and immune cells, which help to protect the newborn against infections and diseases. It is also rich in protein, carbohydrates, and fat, which are essential for the baby’s growth and development.

Colostrum provides the newborn with vital nutrients that are easily digestible, helping to establish a healthy gut microbiome and build a strong immune system

What Does Colostrum Look Like?

It is clear yellow in colour and is somewhat thicker than the actual breast milk. It is high in proteins and carbohydrates. With just a few tablespoons of colostrum, a newborn baby will be satiated.

What’s In Colostrum Milk

Colostrum is highly concentrated and nutrient-dense, so your baby’s stomach doesn’t need much to benefit from it, even in little dosages.

Colostrum is the name for the nutrient-rich first milk that your breasts make while you are pregnant. The breast milk changes from primary to transitional milk a few days after your baby is born. However, very little colostrum is still present in your breast milk for a few weeks.

Here’s a list of nutrients that can be found in Colostrum milk:

1. Protein: Colostrum is high in protein, containing approximately 2-3 grams per 100 millilitres. This is important for newborns as protein is essential for growth and development.

2. Carbohydrates: Colostrum also contains carbohydrates, with an average of 5-6 grams per 100 millilitres. These carbohydrates provide energy for the newborn and aid in the development of their brain and nervous system.

3. Fats: Colostrum is rich in fat, containing approximately 2-5 grams per 100 millilitres. These fats are crucial for the development of the baby’s brain and eyes and also help to provide energy.

4. Vitamins and minerals: Colostrum is a good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin E, and zinc. These nutrients are important for the baby’s immune system and overall health.

5. Antibodies: Colostrum contains high levels of antibodies, including immunoglobulins, which help to protect the newborn against infections and diseases.

6. Growth factors: Colostrum contains growth factors, such as insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which help to stimulate the growth and development of the newborn’s organs and tissues.

7. White blood cells: Colostrum also contains immune cells, such as white blood cells, which help to fight off infections and support the baby’s immune system.

8. Hormones: Colostrum contains various hormones, such as prolactin, which help to stimulate milk production and support the baby’s growth and development.

9. Enzymes: Colostrum contains digestive enzymes, such as lipase and amylase, which aid in the digestion and absorption of nutrients.

10. Oligosaccharides: Colostrum also contains oligosaccharides, which are prebiotics that help to support the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and promote a healthy gut microbiome.

Overall, colostrum is a nutrient-rich substance that provides essential nutrients and immune protection to newborns. Its unique composition helps to support the baby’s growth and development and establish a strong immune system.

Image Source: iStock

Colostrum vs. Breast Milk

What’s the different between colostrum and breast milk, you ask? Read on below:

• Colostrum is produced by the mother’s mammary glands during the first few days after childbirth, while breast milk is produced later on as the baby grows and feeds more frequently.
• Colostrum is thicker and more concentrated than breast milk and contains higher amounts of antibodies, immune factors, and growth factors.
• Colostrum has a yellowish colour and a more viscous texture compared to breast milk, which is more watery and white in color.
• Colostrum contains twice as much protein and zinc, and lower levels of fat and carbohydrates compared to breast milk.
• Colostrum is essential for the baby’s immune system development and provides protection against infections, while breast milk provides complete nutrition for the baby’s growth and development.

Breastfeeding Colostrum Milk

The three stages of breast milk are mature milk, transitional milk, and colostrum.

1. The first milk you make after giving birth is called colostrum, and it lasts for two to four days.
2. Transitional milk starts four days after birth and lasts around two weeks.
3. Mature milk: Milk that persists for at least 14 days after delivery or until you are unable to generate any more.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, your body produces colostrum for up to about five days after your baby is born. It changes to transitional milk around this time, then changes again to mature milk after about 14 days. Your breasts will feel tight, painful, and full as your milk production increases.

But take note, mums, traces of colostrum are present in your breast milk for up to six weeks. So make the most of this time!

By now, your baby’s stomach should have expanded, enabling them to drink more milk at every meal. When your body has stabilised, and your milk production has become established, transitional milk becomes mature.

The placenta’s production of pregnancy hormones helps your body make colostrum. The hormone progesterone drops dramatically when the placenta separates from the uterus. In reaction to this drop in progesterone, your breasts start to produce milk.

After a few days, colostrum will change to regular breast milk so it should be consumed as often as possible.

In order to get all the benefits of colostrum, the mum should ensure that her baby is prepped for breastfeeding. As soon as the baby is born, the mum must immediately move her infant to the breast to suckle.

Can you pump and store colostrum?

Because of its thick consistency, it’s quite difficult to pump colostrum with a breast pump. Most people recommend and prefer to hand-express colostrum as this method usually produces more colostrum than a pump.

While it can be challenging, you can try and store colostrum. Just make sure that it is stored in a sterile container or syringe. It can be kept in your refrigerator for about two or three days and then moved to the freezer. But it’s better if you let your newborn consume the colostrum as soon as they can to reap the benefits as early as possible.

The best way to give colostrum to your baby is to breastfeed them directly in the first few weeks. The first few hours or days of breastfeeding can get rocky. But as long as the baby learns to latch properly and the milk supply is consistently flowing, all the benefits of colostrum will be absorbed.

Is Leaking Colostrum a Good Sign For Breastfeeding

The breasts may start making milk during pregnancy, weeks or even months before the due date.

Your breasts leak during pregnancy because prolactin, the hormone that stimulates milk production after your child’s birth, ramps up while you’re still pregnant, typically in the third trimester. Leakage is common and not a reason for alarm.

If the milk bothers you, try putting tissue or an absorbent breast pad in your bra to absorb it. 

Colostrum Benefits for Baby

Image Source: iStock

Still, thinking if you should give colostrum milk breastfeeding a go? Here are some colostrum benefits for baby:

• Colostrum milk fights infection

Your child can develop his own defence system against illnesses with the support of white blood cells, which can make up as much as two-thirds of the cells in colostrum.

White blood cells in colostrum produce antibodies that can counteract the effects of germs or viruses. These antibodies are especially beneficial in reducing stomachaches and diarrhoea for newborn children with growing stomachs.

• It supports gut health

Your colostrum contains a significant antibody called sIgA in large quantities. This protects your child from illness by lining his digestive tract rather than getting into his bloodstream.

Other immune components and growth factors that support the growth of your baby’s intestines’ protective mucous membranes can also be found in abundance in colostrum. The “good” bacteria in your baby’s stomach are fed and strengthened by the prebiotics in colostrum.

• Colostrum helps prevent jaundice

Since colostrum has a laxative effect, your baby will poop frequently. Meconium, or dark, sticky stools, are caused by all the food he consumed while in the womb filling his intestines, and colostrum milk help him pass it.

Additionally, regular defecation reduces a baby’s chance of getting neonatal jaundice. When your baby is born, the red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body are in great supply. 

The breakdown of these cells is assisted by his liver, which generates bilirubin as a byproduct. Bilirubin builds up in your baby’s body and causes jaundice when the liver cannot process it properly. The laxative properties of colostrum help your baby get rid of bilirubin in his stools.

• Colostrum milk contains vitamins and minerals

The inclusion of carotenoids and vitamin A, which are essential for your baby’s skin and immune system health as well as his vision (vitamin A deficiency is a major cause of blindness globally), gives colostrum its unique yellow colour. Colostrum makes up for the generally inadequate vitamin A reserves present in newborns.

How Much Colostrum Does the Baby Need?

Newborns only need a small amount of colostrum, typically around 1 to 2 teaspoons per feeding. The exact amount needed may vary from baby to baby and depends on factors such as their size and feeding frequency.

It’s important for parents to ensure that their baby is feeding frequently, as this will help to stimulate milk production and ensure that their baby is getting enough colostrum. In the first few days after birth, it’s normal for babies to have very small, frequent feedings as they establish a feeding routine and their mother’s milk supply increases.

Can the body produce more colostrum?

Yes, the body can produce more colostrum as needed. As a baby’s feeding frequency and needs increase, a mother’s milk supply will adjust accordingly to provide more colostrum or transitional milk. In fact, research has shown that the composition of human milk changes over time to meet the changing needs of the growing infant.

Colostrum Can Benefit Grown-ups Too

Colostrum has lately been tried out as a supplement by adults. For instance, medical professionals might suggest utilising colostrum milk to address a range of digestive disorders, like:

• Harm to the stomach caused by NSAID use in excess
• Helicobacter pylori infections have been linked to stomach ulcers.
• Bovine diarrhoea

If you are thinking about whether to breastfeed or opt for milk formula, it is important to note that nothing is better than the benefits of colostrum and breastmilk.

Need Help? Don’t Fret!

Are you convinced of the benefits of colostrum? Are you going to breastfeed your baby too? Tell us about your breastfeeding plans and leave a comment below.

When in doubt, please refer to a lactation consultant, who can offer you more personalised advice according to you and your baby’s situation.