Colostrum superfood for your newborn

Colostrum is the first form of breastmilk that is released by the mammary glands after giving
birth.. It changes to breast milk within two to four days after your baby is born. Colostrum is
thicker and more yellow than traditional breast milk.

It's nutrient dense and high in protein, vitamins, minerals and immunoglobulins (antibodies) that
help build your baby's immune system. It's often called "liquid gold" because of its rich, golden
color and valuable benefits.
What kind of nutrients are in colostrum?

Colostrum is rich in nutrients that protect and nourish your baby unlike anything else. It's made
up of things like:

 Immunoglobulin A (an antibody).

 Lactoferrin (a protein that helps prevent infection).
 Leukocytes (white blood cells).
 Epidermal growth factor (a protein that stimulates cell growth).

It gets its color from carotenoids (an antioxidant) and vitamin A. Vitamin A plays a vital role in
your baby's vision, skin and immune system. Colostrum is rich in magnesium, which supports
your baby’s heart and bones, and copper and zinc, which also support immunity.

What's the difference between colostrum and breast milk?

Colostrum is a nutrient-rich first milk produced by your breasts during pregnancy. It changes to
transitional breast milk a few days after your baby is born. However, small amounts of colostrum
remain in your breast milk for several weeks.

There are distinct differences between colostrum and breast milk:

 Colostrum is filled with immunoglobins to boost your baby's immune system and protect
it from illness.
 Colostrum has two times as much protein.
 Colostrum has four times as much zinc.
 Colostrum is lower in fat and sugar so it's easier to digest.
 Colostrum is thicker and more yellow.

What are the stages of breast milk?

There are three different stages of breast milk: colostrum, transitional milk and mature milk.

 Colostrum: Your first milk that lasts between two and four days after birth.
 Transitional milk: Begins approximately four days after birth and lasts about two weeks.
  Mature milk: Milk that lasts from approximately 14 days after birth until you are done
producing milk.

What are the benefits of colostrum?

Colostrum builds your baby's immune system and provides concentrated nutrition. Some of the
benefits of colostrum are:

 Helps strengthen your baby's immune system.

 Helps to establish a healthy gut by coating the intestines. This helps keep harmful
bacteria from being absorbed.
 Offers ideal nutrition for a newborn.
 Has a laxative effect that helps your baby clear meconium (your baby's first poop) and
lessens the chance of jaundice.
 Easy to digest.
 Helps prevent low blood sugar in full-term babies.

References

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/colostrum

https://www2.hse.ie/babies-children/breastfeeding/a-good-start/your-first-breast-milk-or-
colostrum/

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22434-colostrum#:~:text=Why%20is%20colostrum
%20good%20for,learn%20to%20breastfeed%20(nurse).