COLOSTRUM ... liquid GOLD! Here's 8 things you may not know about Colostrum...
1. Your breasts start to produce colostrum during pregnancy.
2. Colostrum is high in carbohydrates, high in protein, high in antibodies, and low in fat (as human newborns may find fat difficult to digest).
3. Newborns have very small digestive systems, and colostrum delivers its nutrients in a very concentrated low-volume form.
4. Colostrum has a mild laxative effect, encouraging the passing of the baby's first stool, which is called meconium.
5. 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.
6. In Colostrum, Leukocytes are also present in large numbers; these begin protecting the infant from harmful viruses and bacteria.
7. Colostrum has an especially important role to play in the baby's gastrointestinal tract. A newborn's intestines are very permeable. Colostrum seals the holes by "painting" the gastrointestinal tract with a barrier which mostly prevents foreign substances from penetrating.
8. The colostrum gradually changes to mature milk during the first two weeks after birth. During this transition, the concentrations of the antibodies in your milk decrease, but your milk volume greatly increases. The disease-fighting properties of human milk do not disappear with the colostrum. In fact, as long as your baby receives your milk, he will receive immunological protection against many different viruses and bacteria.