Colostrum
From ChildWiki.com
Colostrum is a human female breast secretion with special properties, for which the mammary glands are responsible. It will often appear during the last months of the pregnancy and will persist until 2-3 to a maximum of 5 days after birth as it is slowly turned into milk.
Colostrum is a yellowish liquid that contains antibodies to protect the newborn against infections. Sometimes, it can appear as far back as week 22 of pregnancy. In remote cases, the volume of secretion is too large and can become annoying or offending. So even before they give birth, women start using breast pads, or nursing pads, designed for use by women that are breastfeeding.
Because colostrum is very limited in volume, but very valuable at the same time, it is crucial that the newborn eats frequently to make sure they get enough of the creamy liquid that will soon be replaced by the maternal matured milk. Many times colostrum has been called, “liquid gold”, because of its rich properties.
Colostrum will insure the perfect quantity of nutrients for the needs of a newborn, and will also furnish large quantities of antibodies that will contribute an increase in the immunity of the newborn against harmful agents. Specialists consider colostrum as a 100% natural vaccine. This liquid contains more immunity agents than the matured milk. These immunity agents are medically known as, leukocytes, white protective cells that are capable of destroying affections provoked by viruses and bacteria.
This first milk plays an important role in developing the gastrointestinal tract. Furthermore, colostrum acts like a laxative as it determines the release of meconium (the first bowl movement of a newborn).
Though, colostrum is poor in fats, it has a high concentration of proteins. It is also rich in carbohydrates and vitamin K, and it is easy to digest.
