At what time does colostrum appear?

All expectant mothers develop fluid inside the mammary glands at the time of birth. This substance is called "colostrum". It appears as a result of hormonal changes and preparation of the body for breastfeeding a newborn baby.

What is colostrum

Colostrum is directly linked to a woman's breast milk. The appearance of colostrum is influenced by the action of the hormone oxytocin. Before the appearance of colostrum, a woman's breasts become larger and more sensitive. At the same time, the ducts and channels of the mammary glands expand.

Colostrum is a thick, sticky liquid with a sweet taste. The color of colostrum is usually translucent and slightly yellow. The main nutritional component of colostrum is a protein called albumin. This important protein contributes to the baby's development. In addition to albumin, the nutrient fluid contains lacto- and bifidobacteria, fats, lactose, globulins, vitamins and other useful substances. Most of colostrum is water. Its percentage is 84%. Every 100 ml of colostrum contains 150 kcal.

After the baby is born, the yellowish color of the colostrum will remain, but it will become more transparent. The duration of colostrum formation is up to a week after the birth of the child. Then the composition and color of the nutritional fluid changes and it turns into mature breast milk of the usual white color.

When does colostrum appear?

In fact, the expectant mother’s breasts begin preparing to secrete breast milk from the very first time after conception. At this time, hormonal changes begin, leading to the fact that colostrum begins to be produced from conception.

In the first weeks of pregnancy, the amount of colostrum is so small that the expectant mother does not notice it at all. But sometimes there are cases when it is by the appearance of colostrum that a woman learns that she is expecting baby.

In the second part of pregnancy, the nutrient fluid is produced much more strongly. At this time, many women notice sticky fluid coming out of their breasts. It can be from one drop to 5 ml.

In the third trimester, almost all women already observe the release of colostrum. The liquid becomes less intense in color, but the amount of colostrum released does not change.

The process of colostrum formation is also influenced by some factors affecting the expectant mother:

• Emotional state of the pregnant woman. Moreover, these can be both positive emotions and the impact of negative, stressful situations.
• Impact on the mammary glands with a hot shower.
• Prolonged sexual contact.
• Breast massage.
• Hot and sweet drinks, such as tea or coffee.

How to express colostrum

In some cases, the baby does not latch on to the breast immediately after birth. There may be enough reasons for this - a difficult birth, the child was born ahead of schedule, birth injuries, or the child is temporarily separated from the mother. But even in this case, the child should eat maternal colostrum.

To feed the baby   There is no need to use a bottle so that the baby does not get used to it. It is best not to express colostrum using a breast pump. There is very little nutrient liquid in the first days and most of it will remain on the walls of the device. It is more convenient to use a glass or even a spoon as a container. It is important to express colostrum correctly. Do not press on the nipple itself, as this will prevent you from collecting valuable fluid. Fingers should be placed at the border of the nipple areola and white skin. Place your thumb on top and the rest on the bottom of the breast. When expressing, move your fingers with pressure in the direction from the border of the areola to the nipple. Having received a portion of the nutrient liquid, return your fingers to the border of the areola and white skin.

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