BT July 2019

Bump To Birth
Mini Feature
13 important facts
about Colostrum
1. Colostrum (also known as beestings or first milk) is a
form of milk produced by the mammary glands in late
pregnancy and the few days after giving birth.
2. Human and bovine colostrums are thick, sticky and
yellowish.
3. In humans, it has high concentrations of nutrients and
antibodies, but it is small in quantity.
4. Colostrum is high in carbohydrates, high in protein, high in
antibodies, and low in fat (as human newborns may find
fat difficult to digest).
5. Newborns have very small digestive systems, and
colostrum delivers its nutrients in a very concentrated lowvolume
form.
6. It has a mild laxative effect, encouraging the passing of the
baby's first stool, which is called meconium.
7. Colostrum clears excess bilirubin, a waste product of dead
red blood cells which is produced in large quantities at
birth due to blood volume reduction, from the infant's
body and helps prevent jaundice.
8. Colostrum contains large numbers of antibodies called
"secretory immunoglobulin" (IgA) that help protect the
mucous membranes in the throat, lungs, and intestines of
the infant.
9. Leukocytes are also present in large numbers; these begin
protecting the infant from harmful viruses and bacteria.
10. Ingesting colostrum establishes beneficial bacteria in the
digestive tract.
11. Premature babies tend to fare better on human colostrum
than commercial infant formulas.
12. Human milk contains special components, called growth
modulators, that help the premature baby's digestive
system adjust to oral feedings.
13. Research indicates that premature babies fed formula
tend to vomit more and continue tube feeding longer than
those fed human colostrum and breast milk.
Source: Sciencedaily.com
40 BabyTalk | July 2019