What Is Colostrum?
If you’re planning to breastfeed your baby, colostrum will be your baby’s first meal. It’s the first liquid your breasts produce after you give birth. Colostrum contains high levels of protein, vitamins, and more. It’s so rich in nutrients that some experts call this premilk “liquid gold.”
What does colostrum look like?
Colostrum is usually golden yellow in color, similar to an egg yolk. It can also appear clear, white, or creamy in some cases. It has a sticky consistency but can be watery, too. It’s usually much thicker than usual breast milk or cow’s milk though. It may even contain faint traces of blood, which is normal and not a matter of concern unless there’s active bleeding.
What's it made of?
Newborns are vulnerable to infections from their surroundings since their immune system has yet to fully develop. Colostrum can provide ammunition to your baby’s immune system and act as the first line of defense against harmful organisms.
Colostrum contains white blood cells (leukocytes), which produce antibodies (immunoglobulin A) that can defend against infections. When your baby consumes the colostrum, they get these antibodies, which can strengthen their immune system.
Colostrum is rich in proteins and has low fat and sugar content. This includes proteins such as lactoferrin, which has a protective action against infections, and epidermal growth factor, which promotes cell growth.
It also contains several important vitamins, such as vitamin A, and minerals such as magnesium, copper, and zinc. Vitamin A is necessary for your baby’s vision, immunity, and skin health. Magnesium is essential for your baby’s heart and bone development.
Copper and zinc also play vital roles in supporting your baby’s immune system. In fact, colostrum has four times as much zinc and two times as much copper as regular breast milk.
Although it’s thicker, colostrum is easier to digest than normal breast milk because of its low fat and sugar components. Because it’s so nutrient-dense, the baby requires much less colostrum to meet its nutritional needs. About 1 to 4 teaspoons per day should be enough, as the newborn stomach is only the size of a marble.
When Does Colostrum Come In?
It might surprise you to learn that your body might start making colostrum already between 12 and 18 weeks of pregnancy. Some people never notice it, while others can begin leaking colostrum from their breasts during their second trimester. This is normal and doesn’t mean that labor will come soon.
Once you deliver your baby, the placenta detaches from your uterus and is expelled. Without the placenta, progesterone levels drop considerably, which sends a signal to your breasts to produce milk.
Anytime from immediately to within the first 24 hours of delivery, you should be able to start breastfeeding. It usually comes out in drops because of its thick consistency, but it’s enough for your newborn. In case your baby is struggling to breastfeed, you can use your hands to express the colostrum and assist your newborn. Breast pumps may not work effectively for such thick milk.
If you can’t tell whether your baby’s receiving colostrum, observe their health for signs such as whether they’re peeing regularly and staying at the same weight or not losing too much. If you have concerns, consult your doctor.
Colostrum Collecting
It’s possible to collect colostrum before your baby is born, and there are a few reasons why someone might do this. For example, your baby might benefit from additional colostrum if they are:
- Born larger or smaller than expected for their gestational age (how long they have been in the womb)
- A twin or triplet
- Born with cleft lip or palate
- Born with Down syndrome
- Born with a heart complication
Sometimes, people harvest colostrum because they:
- Are taking medications such as beta-blockers for conditions like high blood pressure, heart failure, or migraines
- Developed preeclampsia, or gestational diabetes during pregnancy
- Have diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, breast hyperplasia, or a raised body mass index (BMI)
- Are going to have a planned C-section
It can take some practice to collect the colostrum though and not everyone can do it. It’s important to keep in mind that if you do have trouble with this, it is not a sign that you will have issues with breastfeeding. Hand collecting colostrum is not the same as breastfeeding.
If you have an uneventful, healthy pregnancy, you can likely start collecting the colostrum as early as your 37th week of pregnancy, unless your doctor or midwife tells you not to do it. If you experience any cramping or contractions while trying to collect colostrum, stop immediately.
How to store colostrum
It’s important to keep your equipment clean so you don’t introduce any bacteria while collecting and storing colostrum. Once you have it, the colostrum must be stored safely. You can keep the colostrum you collect throughout the day in containers in a fridge, but at the end of the day, they should be put in the freezer. If you’re collecting colostrum in small syringes (no larger than 5 milliliters), put those syringes in a freezer bag and seal it well. If you’re saving the liquid in small canning jars or similar containers, make sure they are sealed well before placing them in a freezer.
All the bags and containers should be labeled with the date and time you expressed the colostrum because it can only be stored for 4 to 6 months.
If you want to bring stored colostrum to the hospital or birthing center, place the containers in a cooler with ice to keep them cold. You can thaw the colostrum out by placing the containers in lukewarm water. Don’t take more than two or three syringes (or small containers) because thawed colostrum must be used within 24 hours.
When Does Colostrum Turn to Milk?
The three stages of breast milk expression include:
Colostrum. This is the first milk expressed after delivery. Your body usually produces colostrum exclusively for 2-5 days, after which the milk composition begins to undergo some changes.
Transitional milk. This milk contains a mixture of both colostrum and more mature milk. Transitional milk is usually produced from 5 days to up to 2 weeks after delivery. In this period, your milk production is likely to increase significantly to meet the developmental and nutritional needs of your rapidly growing infant. This ramped-up supply is often referred to as “your milk coming in,” which can make your breasts feel full, firm, and tender.
Mature milk. By 4-6 weeks after delivery, the transition is complete, and all the milk you produce could be considered mature, without any traces of colostrum. This milk is thinner and whiter and has a higher fat and sugar content. At this stage, your body should be stabilized, and your milk supply should be well established.
Colostrum Benefits
Colostrum is useful to your newborn as it:
Provides immunization. The maternal antibodies in your colostrum act as a natural antibiotic for your newborn, safeguarding them from environmental germs.
Is a rich nutrient source. Your colostrum contains the nutrients required for your newborn to grow safely and rapidly.
Improves gut health. Your colostrum is easy on your newborn’s tummy because of its low-fat content. It also coats your baby’s intestines to prevent the entry of harmful infectious organisms. This helps establish a healthy gut in your newborn.
Acts as a natural laxative. Your colostrum helps in clearing your newborn’s first poop (meconium), which lowers your baby’s risk of developing jaundice.
Assists in body regulation. Your colostrum can help your baby regulate their body temperature, metabolism, lung and circulatory functions, and blood sugar levels so that they can acclimate to the external world as quickly as possible. Since they take only a small amount of colostrum at a time, they learn to breathe, suck, and swallow easily while feeding.
Promotes growth. The growth factor proteins in your colostrum can help premature babies grow smoothly and healthily.
Helps prevent low blood sugar. Some full-term babies develop low blood sugar after birth. Colostrum can help them regulate this.
These numerous colostrum benefits show why it’s important to start breastfeeding as early as possible after delivery.
Colostrum Benefits for Adults
You may have heard about the benefits of colostrum for adults. It’s important to understand that this refers to supplements of bovine colostrum (from cows), not human colostrum.
The second thing to keep in mind is there isn’t much research yet on whether taking colostrum as an adult does anything good for you. Some early studies say that it might be helpful for:
- Increasing exercise performance
- Reducing inflammation in your gut if you take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Reducing ulcerative colitis symptoms
- Easing “traveler’s diarrhea”
Colostrum Supplements
Supplements aren’t regulated by the U.S. FDA and there are no formulations set for colostrum, so you don’t know how much you’re getting and if it’s going to do any good or harm.
If you do want to buy colostrum supplements, there are some safety tips you should keep in mind.
- Choose a nationally recognized brand or store brand.
- Look for quality seals. Some organizations, such as NSF International, UL, USP, and others, test products and certify them.
- Be careful where you buy from. Some internet sites sell fake or inferior products.
- Check to see if the company is a member of an industry association.
- Visit the company’s website to see how long it’s been in business and what else it sells.
- Check the ingredient list and labels.
- Be skeptical of any too-good-to-be-true claims.
Colostrum Side Effects
Just as there aren’t any known benefits from taking colostrum supplements, there aren’t any known risks or side effects. However, dietitians do warn that if you are sensitive to dairy products, you should avoid taking these supplements.
Takeaways
Colostrum is the fluid your breasts start to produce while you’re still pregnant so you’re ready to start feeding when your baby is born. For the first few days after birth, your baby will get this very nutrient-rich fluid premilk that is full of antibodies, proteins, and vitamins. Unless you’ve been told you shouldn’t, you can collect colostrum before birth and keep it in your freezer (for 4-6 months) in case your baby needs it.
Colostrum FAQs
Do humans drink colostrum?
Newborn babies drink colostrum if they are breastfed. Some parents collect colostrum so they can give it to their newborns if they are unable to breastfeed or choose not to.
Is colostrum human milk?
Colostrum isn’t human milk. It is “premilk,” a fluid filled with many nutrients that help newborns in their first few days of life.
When to give colostrum to a baby?
Babies get colostrum in their first few days of life. After a few days, the fluid starts to change so it becomes more like milk.
How long does colostrum last?
Your body can produce colostrum for about 5 days after you give birth before it starts to change to milk.
