Liquid Gold, your baby’s first superfood
What makes colostrum “liquid gold?”
Early on in pregnancy, you might feel your breast/chest tissue getting sore, swollen, or feeling especially sensitive. These are all signs that your body is preparing for lactation. Beginning around 16-22 weeks of pregnancy your body will begin to produce your very first milk, called colostrum.
It is normal for colostrum to come in a wide range of colors, including pale yellow, gold, cream-colored, even clear or transparent. It is often thick, sticky or feels oily to the touch. Because of these rich colors and how precious it is, colostrum is often lovingly referred to as “liquid gold.”
Your liquid gold will be ready for your baby at birth, no matter what week of gestation they are born. In fact, colostrum is tailor made exactly for your baby! For example, your body knows how many weeks pregnant you are and will make colostrum with all of the protective antibodies and nutrients that a baby of that specific age will need at birth. So whether you give birth to an itty bitty preemie or a full term chunky monkey, your milk will be exactly right for them!
Because colostrum is produced by the hormones in your pregnant body, there is nothing extra you need to do in order to produce colostrum prenatally. Your body does it without any help from you! After birth, if you need to express your milk to feed your baby with a spoon, cup, syringe, or bottle, it is often helpful to hand express your milk rather than use a pump (due to the small amounts obtained). Your lactation counselor can help you do that!
Overtime, your milk will change from colostrum to mature milk. The nutrients will change for your growing baby and you may see it go from gold or transparent to white. As that happens, you will also make more milk each day until your supply regulates.
What makes colostrum so special?
high in protein, low in fat, easy to digest
anti-inflammatory, heals and soothes the newborn digestive system
has antibodies that help protect the throat, lungs, and intestines
large amount of blood cells that kill harmful viruses and bacteria
helps establish healthy bacteria in the baby’s gut and microbiome
has 400 times the amount of anti-cancer substances found in our blood
high antioxidants that keep cells healthy, gives colostrum that golden color
reduces jaundice by helping baby to poop
produced in the perfect amount for your baby’s tummy size
Is a living fluid that changes to meet your baby’s unique needs!
References:
Colostrum: General. La Leche League International. (2021, March 17). Retrieved January 15, 2022, from https://www.llli.org/breastfeeding-info/colostrum-general/
Lauwers, J., & Swisher, A. (2015). Properties of Human Milk. In Counseling the nursing mother (pp. 157–180). essay, Jones and Bartlett Publishers.