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Gold Rush!
Discover the Power of Colostrum
By Ann Calandro, RNC, IBCLC
Sometimes, because Mother has not yet felt her breasts fill with milk or leak noticeably since the birth of her baby, she may worry that the baby is "not getting anything yet." Nothing could be further from the truth. Inside her baby's body, mysterious and wonderful changes are occurring with each nursing. Colostrum – even in small amounts – is a laxative, stimulating the passage of meconium (the thick, black first stools), thus decreasing the chance of jaundice.
It is digested quickly and stabilizes Baby's blood sugar. It protects the digestive tract membrane, building a barrier to infections. It establishes bifidus flora (the beneficial bacteria) in the digestive tract. Colostrum builds the immune system and contributing growth factors. Being a live fluid similar to blood, it is able to build and change the baby's gut and prepare and protect it from all types of germs. Think of it as a kind of special sealant.
Human babies are born unfinished, ready for the gift of colostrum. Their bodies are a work in progress, expecting colostrum and Mother's milk to complete the strengthening of their immune systems. Only on very rare occasions, and for medical reasons, should any other food be added during the first days of life. It is important to let colostrum do its work. Usually by the second day of life, the baby will be ready to eat more often, so it is important to encourage him to nurse frequently, as often as he indicates hunger.
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