Breast milk is an important nutrition source for babies. Therefore, as the scheduled birth date approaches, you will be worried about producing your breast milk properly.
But there are many pregnant women who do not understand the difference between colostrum and breast milk. Therefore, in this article, we will talk about “colostrum”.
What is colostrum?
Colostrum is often thought to refer only to “the breast milk that comes out first” at the beginning of your milk production, but it actually refers to the cream coloured milk that is produced for about a week after birth.
Although colostrum contains ingredients secreted in the breast from childbirth, the hormone balance in the mother’s body changes as the placenta is discharged in childbirth, changing the ingredients little by little so that it eventually changes to white and smooth mother’s milk called “breastmilk”.
Nutritional Characteristics of Colostrum
In this section, we provide you some detailed information about the nutritional characteristics of colostrum:
- Compared with milk, it contains a lot of nutrition such as protein, vitamins, iron and calcium, less sugar and lipid
- Beta carotene is contained about 5 times as much as milk, so it is yellowish
- Because it contains a lot of water-soluble vitamins and proteins, it is thick
- Many “IgA antibodies” and “IgG antibodies” that increase the immunity of babies
- “Lactoferrin” that enhances immunity to bacteria and viruses is about 3 times more than milk
- Many cholesterol required for nervous system development and cell membrane production
- It has an action to promote meconium (first poop)
Thus, colostrum contains plenty of ingredients necessary for a newborn baby whose immune function is not fully developed.
To make colostrum easier to get out
Although breast milk comes out after giving birth, there may be clogging of the breast duct (path of breast milk) immediately after childbirth. In such a case, try the following methods.
Have your baby suck on your breasts
The stimulation that the baby makes by sucking your breasts activates the mother’s hormone and develops the mammary gland. This opens the duct and improves the flow, so that the colostrum is improved. Even if it does not come out at first, let your baby suck several times.
The hormone secretion also promotes contraction of the uterus, so the recovery of the mother will also be accelerated.
Breast massage
The method of massage varies depending on the teacher and expert, but none has the effect of eliminating clogging of blood flow and breast milk. Because breast milk is made from the mother’s blood, breast milk will be easier if breast milk tends to break out by breaking the base of the breast, improving blood circulation and eliminating clogging with breast massage.
Nipple care
Depending on the shape of your nipple, breastfeeding may not occur because your baby does not drink well. Let’s make it easy for the baby to breathe and suck. Mothers with flat papilla or depressed papilla use tools to reshape the nipple.
If you cannot give colostrum directly
After giving birth, if the baby can not drink from your breasts because he/she has to be incubated, you need to have the colostrum delivered cold as much as possible even in small amounts.
Also, if breast milk cannot be raised due to nipple cracking or inflammation, it is best to milk and have your baby drink from a baby bottle, use teat protection nipples, etc. If there is something to worry about even a little, discuss with a nurse or a midwife.
SUMMARY
Colostrum is less secreted when the baby is not good at his/her drinking behavior, so it will not be quite smooth. However, too much focus having to have colostrum and breastmilk may cause stress and sometimes unnecessary breast milk worsens.
Even if it does not come out as expected, the baby will gradually become able to suck up gradually and repeatedly. Do not panic and leave your mental attitude towards breastfeeding with a relaxed feeling.
