![]() With a high white blood cell count, colostrum also protects your little one from any infections as they adjust to the world outside the womb.Ĭolostrum is breastmilk, and the only difference in colostrum and mature milk is the composition – it is tailor-made for your newborn in the first few days following birth. Packed with antibodies, this thick and sticky milk coats the newborn stomach and prepares the digestive system for mature milk and even solid foods as they grow. The similarities between colostrum and amniotic fluid are intentional by nature – this smell will help your baby find the breast after birth, and the consistency is familiar. This milk is very thick, sticky, and has a smell that is similar to amniotic fluid, which your baby practices swallowing in the womb. During the second trimester of pregnancy (about 14-16 weeks) your body begins to produce colostrum. This milk is very rich, and your baby will remove small amounts frequently in the first few days of life.Ĭolostrum is the first milk that your newborn will receive. It is higher in proteins and immune factors than mature milk, which gives it that gold, yellow, or orange hue. Studies show that when a breastfeeding mother eats a variety of foods, her baby may be more willing to try more foods when the time comes to introduce solids, due to the various flavor changes in breastmilk.Ĭommonly referred to as a “liquid gold,” this is the first milk you make for your baby. The hormones and enzymes found in breastmilk will highly vary from mother to mother, depending on the age of the baby, the mother’s diet, and many other factors. Thyroid enzymes, prolactin (the hormone that tells you to make milk), oxytocin, and many more are found in breastmilk. Zinc, iron, and calcium are the highest absorbed. Readily-absorbed vitamins and minerals are found in breastmilk. ![]() This is why you do not have to stop breastfeeding when you are sick – your milk is actually protecting your baby! Just one teaspoon of breastmilk contains approximately three million germ-killing cells.Īs you are exposed to germs and as you interact with, feed, and kiss your baby, your body is able to take “messages” back that translate to specific antibodies in your milk, which then provide protection for your baby. Human milk has higher lactose volumes than other milk from mammals.īreastmilk is full of living white blood cells that boost your baby’s immune system. Lactose is important for brain health and growth. It is very rare for an infant to be allergic or sensitive to human milk proteins.īreastmilk contains lactose (milk sugar) and oligosaccharides, which help with digestion and intestinal health. Sears ( )īreastmilk is rich in many proteins, including cholesterol and DHA, intestinal and digestive help (lactoferrin), antimicrobials, brain-building blocks, and sleep-inducing proteins. “Fat is the most important nutrient in breastmilk the absence of cholesterol and DHA, vital nutrients for growing brains and bodies, may predispose a child to adult heart and central nervous system diseases.” Dr. The level of these fats is automatically adjusted to your infant’s specific needs. ![]() It is rich in Omega 3 fatty acids like DHA. No two breastmilk samples are exactly alike.īreastmilk contains many fats which help your baby’s body and brain grow. Your body changes the composition of milk to meet your little one’s specific needs. And your milk is tailor-made specifically for YOUR baby – day by day, month by month, and feeding by feeding. But have you ever wondered exactly what is in your milk? While we know the components or “ingredients” in breastmilk, the composition will be different for each mom.īreast milk is a living substance that is ever-changing to meet the needs of your growing child. You have probably heard that breastmilk supplies all the nutrients your infants needs. ![]()
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