Even during pregnancy, while your little explorer is still cozy in the womb, colostrum forms in your body. This pre-milk helps support your baby’s immune system in the first days of life. This very first milk makes a significant contribution to protecting your baby from infections and supporting healthy development. Here, you’ll learn which ingredients make colostrum so valuable and how long your body produces it.

Colostrum – what is it actually?

If you’re looking more closely at Breastfeeding during your pregnancy, you’ll likely come across colostrum – also called pre-milk, first milk, or newborn milk – and wonder what it means. Whether it’s doctors or midwives, everyone will tell you how valuable this first milk after birth is for your newborn. But what exactly is colostrum?

You can recognize colostrum mainly by its yellow color, which comes from its high beta-carotene content. It’s no coincidence that it is also called liquid gold . The consistency of colostrum also differs from that of later, mature breast milk, as it is significantly thicker. Even before birth, your body prepares to feed your baby and produces pre-milk in the mammary glands. It will be the first nourishment your baby receives outside the womb—so it has an important job and helps prepare your newborn for the outside world. For this reason, colostrum serves your little explorer as more than just food . Colostrum also helps build your baby’s immune system. What’s especially remarkable is that pre-milk even adapts to your newborn’s individual needs and developmental stage. This way, your baby receives exactly the nutrients they need after birth. Amazing, isn’t it?

What is colostrum made of?

Colostrum acts like a first vaccination for your baby, as it contains numerous vitamins and nutrients that help your little explorer develop a strong immune system after birth:

• Vitamin A supports your baby's vision and also promotes healthy skin and a strong immune system.

• Immunoglobulin A strengthens your baby’s immune system and helps protect your little explorer’s body from pathogens, viruses, and bacteria.

• Magnesium helps your baby’s heart and bones develop optimally.

• Eisen, Zink und Kupfer support immune defenses, with zinc also supporting brain development.

• Special proteins, known as interferons , stimulate the immune system, counteract viruses, and inhibit the growth of tumor cells.

• Only a small amount of lactose and fat is contained in colostrum, because large amounts would overwhelm your newborn's delicate stomach. This makes colostrum perfectly adapted to your newborn's still sensitive gastrointestinal tract.

Why is colostrum important for my baby?

Breastfeeding and the breastfeeding period are surrounded by numerous myths. Perhaps you’ve been advised to avoid certain foods while breastfeeding to protect your newborn from allergies. Or you were told to limit coffee because it can affect the composition of breast milk. One thing is certain: if you enjoy these treats and foods mindfully, your intake will not affect your breast milk—not even your colostrum.

These effects make colostrum so important for your baby:

• Reduction of stress caused by childbirth and enhancement of well-being

• Prevention and control of infections

• Support in the elimination of the child's waste and thereby promote metabolism

• Support for growth and development

For Preterm infants , colostrum is particularly valuable. Since pre-milk is produced as early as the 16th week of pregnancy, it can even support infants who are born before the due date Expected delivery date to be born . The best part: at this time, colostrum contains even more nutrients and therefore provides your baby with immune factors for an even longer period.

If you’ve decided not to breastfeed your newborn and instead give them a bottle, that is completely fine. Still, whenever possible, try to give your little explorer colostrum. You can express it by hand at first, and your midwife can show you the best way to do this.

What distinguishes colostrum from later breast milk?

Breast milk is a true wonder of nature. It provides your baby with all the essential nutrients from day one. During breastfeeding, it changes frequently and adapts to the needs of your child . This is how colostrum becomes transitional milk, and then mature breast milk develops, which will nourish your baby in the first months of life.

The ingredients in colostrum differ from the composition of breast milk, which develops approximately 14 days after birth. Less carbohydrates, fat, and lactose, but even more proteins help gently introduce your newborn’s sensitive gastrointestinal tract to feeding.

When and for how long is colostrum produced?

Already in mid-pregnancy, approximately from the 16th week of pregnancy , colostrum can begin to form in the body. By this point, the milk glands are already so well developed that you could feed your baby. However, placental hormones suppress the production of larger amounts of breast milk. If pre-milk leaks during pregnancy—which, by the way, does not happen for all pregnant women—this is no cause for concern. Your midwife or gynecologist can tell you how best to handle leaking colostrum before birth. You can also discuss with them whether and how you can express pre-milk during pregnancy.

After about two to four days you will notice a change in your breast milk: it becomes significantly thinner, and the yellowish color changes to white. The so-called transitional milk will nourish your newborn for about 10 to 14 days before mature breast milk comes in. The first milk let-down (initial breast swelling) can also cause your breasts to become fuller and feel firmer—in the first few days, this can sometimes be uncomfortable or painful.

How can I collect and express the colostrum?

If you express colostrum and give it to your newborn, your baby’s immune system can develop optimally. Here’s how you can express colostrum:

• Wash your hands before expressing the pre-milk to prevent contamination of the colostrum by germs or bacteria.

• Promote circulation in your chest with a warm compress, then begin a breast massage. Use gentle circular motions from the outside inward.

• You can collect colostrum best with a 2 or 5 ml syringe placed at the nipple.
  

Whether you breastfeed your little explorer after birth or give them a bottle, colostrum is extremely valuable for newborns—so you should definitely offer it to your baby. If you have any questions about pre-milk and how to express it, it’s best to contact your midwife directly, as her experience can provide helpful tips. We wish you a wonderful bonding time with your little one.