C.I.D.P.U.S.A.ORG Autoimmune diseases
What is colostrum?
How does it benefit my baby?Breasts produce colostrum beginning during pregnancy and continuing
through the early days of breastfeeding. This is yellow to
orange in color, thick and sticky. It is low in fat, and high in
carbohydrates, protein, and antibodies to help keep your baby
healthy. Colostrum is extremely easy to digest, and is therefore the
perfect first food for your baby. It is low in volume (measurable in
teaspoons rather than ounces), 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 whiter (more opaque) in color. In those first few
days it is extremely important to breastfeed your newborn at least
8-12 times each 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.
The colostrum gradually changes to mature milk during the first two
weeks after birth. During this transition, the concentrations of the
antibodies in your milk decrease, but your milk volume greatly
increases. 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.