Breastfeeding is a woman’s gift, where her own body produces the appropriate and necessary food to nourish and feed the baby without supplementation. Much is said about the importance of breastfeeding, but little is mentioned about colostrum. Do you know what it is? And how important is it?
What Is Colostrum?
Colostrum is considered the treasure, “the gold” of breastfeeding, as it is the first liquid to come from the breasts and contains the highest amount of nutrients, proteins, and everything the baby needs to be nourished.
Colostrum is produced by the breasts right after birth, has a yellowish appearance, sometimes clear, liquid, and is considered quite rich in fat and calories, produced in just the right amount to feed the baby during the first 2 or 3 days of life. With exclusive breastfeeding, colostrum makes way for mature breast milk, which will then come in full force to feed your baby on demand.
Other Important Roles of Colostrum
Beyond the nutritional importance of colostrum for the baby’s health, it has anti-inflammatory power, antimicrobial properties, and substances that help boost immunity in the newborn. These factors are essential to ensure the baby’s quality of life, keeping them away from possible diarrhea and allergies that are so common due to their sensitivity.
Babies who are breastfed—especially those who received colostrum—have greater immunity than those who did not, suffering less from even the most common infections, such as viral illnesses.
What Does Maternal Colostrum Contain?
We now know that colostrum is rich in nutrients and considered the most caloric part of breast milk. But what exactly makes this “liquid gold” so important? What is so special and unique about this small amount of liquid that the body produces? Is it possible to find another alternative to replace it?
Colostrum contains a large amount of protein, vitamins, minerals, water, carbohydrates, and leukocytes that are extremely important for nutrition and to strengthen the baby’s immune system. Its fat content is lower than mature milk, but it has a higher concentration of sodium, potassium, and chlorine, as well as immunoglobulins.
That’s why in medicine, colostrum is often logically compared to receiving the first vaccine, since its action is to protect against various infections. The vitamin A it contains is important for eye protection and fighting infections.
Besides all the nutrition and protection provided by colostrum, its ingestion stimulates the intestine to function so that meconium is expelled more quickly, reducing the chances of jaundice developing.
Maternal Antibodies
It is in colostrum that maternal antibodies are passed to the baby, protecting the newborn from external factors after birth. After the first three days, transitional milk will be produced until mature milk arrives and becomes the baby’s primary food. Transitional milk contains a higher percentage of fat and sugar, and women will feel their breasts heavier and fuller than in other breastfeeding stages.
No matter how many formulas and supplements are created, none will do the same job as colostrum and breast milk. None can achieve the same nutrient levels and provide what mother nature itself offers: maternal antibodies. That’s why doctors stress, recommend, and reinforce the importance of exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life.
Breastfeeding is truly an act of love, persistence, and overcoming by mothers. It is a moment of complete surrender, and not everything happens like a scene from a soap opera. In the first few days, it is common for women to feel pain, have cracked nipples, experience engorgement, and even want to stop breastfeeding, but all the beneficial effects of colostrum and breast milk in a baby’s life are worth the effort.
And of course, breastfeeding can be a delightful moment, with eye contact and tiny hands touching you while feeding comfortably. Because cracking is very common in the early days, the tip of the nipple may bleed, but do not worry if the baby ends up drinking milk with a bit of blood; it will not do any harm.
Talk to your doctor to recommend an ointment that will help heal your nipple or use your own milk for healing. Sunbathing is also a natural remedy that greatly aids breastfeeding, since it makes the skin on the nipple firmer and helps heal the injured area.
See Also: How to Increase Breast Milk – Beginning of Breastfeeding
Photos: Enid W. Circuito Fora do Eixo
_ Box of Key Information:
- Breastfeeding is a woman’s gift, where her own body produces the appropriate and necessary food to nourish and feed the baby without supplementation.
- Colostrum is considered the treasure, “the gold” of breastfeeding, as it is the first liquid to come from the breasts and contains the highest amount of nutrients, proteins, and everything the baby needs.
- Beyond the nutritional importance of colostrum for the baby’s health, it has anti-inflammatory power, antimicrobial properties, and substances that help boost the newborn’s immunity.
- Colostrum contains a large amount of protein, vitamins, minerals, water, carbohydrates, and leukocytes that are extremely important for nutrition and to strengthen the immune system.
- It is in colostrum that maternal antibodies are passed to the baby, protecting them from external factors after birth.
