You might have questioned what the phrases "first milk", "pre-milk", "early milk" or "practise milk" meant in the event you've heard them and for the uninitiated, all of them consult with colostrum, a kind of nutrient-rich milk that comes earlier than your common breast milk. Whether you have observed colostrum leaking onto your bra throughout being pregnant otherwise you're desirous about breastfeeding and wish to study extra, it is essential to grasp what colostrum is, how lengthy it lasts and the way a lot your new child might require.

What precisely is colostrum?

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Tushar Parikh, Chief Consultant Neonatologist and Paediatrician at Motherhood Hospital in Pune's Kharadi, defined, “Colostrum is a concentrated type of breast milk with immune-boosting benefits for your baby. It contains protein, salts, antibodies, and defensive characteristics that are all useful to your infant. Colostrum has more protein than conventional breast milk but less sugar, fat, and calories. If you're breastfeeding your baby, the first few days after she's born will be colostrum feeds, before your normal breast milk begins to flow.”

Advantages of colostrum to your new child

Breastfeeding can start as quickly as your child is born. Though colostrum advantages all infants, Dr Tushar Parikh highlighted that preterm infants who obtain it from their mom's breast have "significantly better health outcomes" than those that don't. The advantages embody:

1. Aids within the improvement of your child's immune system (comprises antibodies and white blood cells).

2. Creates a thick layer in your child's abdomen and intestines to maintain infections at bay and irritation at bay.

3. Helps your toddler move meconium (the black first faeces) by performing as a laxative.

4. Aids within the prevention of jaundice and the elimination of hazardous waste merchandise. Learn extra about jaundice and nursing.

5. Gives your child's mind, imaginative and prescient, and coronary heart the nourishment they should flourish.

6. High in protein, salts and nutritional vitamins for full nourishment.

7. Complete vitamins which might be simply digestible by your child's tummy. It is the perfect nourishment to your toddler.

8. Aids within the prevention of low blood sugar in infants.

Distinction between colostrum and breast milk

Dr Tushar Parikh mentioned, “During pregnancy, your breasts produce nutrient-rich first milk called colostrum. A few days after your baby is born, it transitions to transitional breast milk. Small amounts of colostrum, on the other hand, can be found in your breast milk for several weeks.”

He listed some essential distinctions between colostrum and breast milk as:

1. Colostrum comprises immunoglobins, which assist to extend your child's immune system and shield it from illness.

2. Colostrum has twice as a lot protein as milk.

3. Colostrum has 4 occasions the zinc.

4. Colostrum has much less fats and sugar, making it less complicated to digest.

5. The colostrum is golden and thicker.

He prompt, "Even if you only produce a tiny amount of colostrum, you should continue to nurse your baby as often as possible at this time. Your newborn's stomach is tiny and they only require a small amount of colostrum for the first few days. Since it is a highly concentrated food, your baby will only require a small amount, about a teaspoonful, at each feeding. Your infant may want to eat often, possibly every hour at first. After a few days, they'll start having fewer but longer feeds as your breasts begin to produce more "mature" milk. The longer you breastfeed, the more your baby's sucking stimulates your production, resulting in more milk."

Dr Tushar Parikh concluded, “Breastfeeding may appear instinctual, but this does not imply that everyone picks it up right away. Get comfortable and don't be too concerned if things don't go as planned at first. If it's extremely painful or if you or your kid is experiencing any other symptoms, don't be afraid to ask for assistance. A timely intervention can ensure a comfortable nursing experience and that your baby does not miss out on the superfood colostrum.”