What are the special effects of colostrum?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted with Specialist Doctor II Huynh Thi Hien - Obstetrician and Gynecologist - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.
Colostrum is a type of milk that is especially good for babies, considered an absolutely safe vaccine with no side effects for the baby's body in the early stages of life. Colostrum is 10 times more nutritious than transitional and mature milk.

1. What is colostrum?

Colostrum (also known as colostrum) is breast milk produced when a woman is 7 months pregnant. Colostrum is formed through the hormonal changes of the mother 2-3 days after giving birth. If breastfed at the right time, it can be said that colostrum is the first food that the baby comes into contact with after birth. Colostrum, although the quantity is not much, but contains a lot of extremely important nutrients, capable of supporting the immune system and reducing the risk of disease in children in the first months of life.

Depending on the location, the mother's body can secrete colostrum with different colors. Colostrum will normally be milky white, sometimes transparent, yellow or light yellow. Colostrum is usually thick and slightly sticky.
Each mother has a different time and characteristics of colostrum secretion. In some pregnant women, the body begins to have colostrum as soon as the belly starts to grow, equivalent to the 4th month of pregnancy; Some people, 1-2 days after giving birth, the body begins to secrete colostrum.

2. Nutritional composition in colostrum

According to some studies, colostrum has 10 times more nutrients than transitional milk (breast milk from 6th to 10th day after birth) and mature milk (breast milk from 11th day after birth). onwards). The main nutritional ingredients in colostrum include:
Protein: The protein content in colostrum is 5 times higher than normal breast milk, in which it contains many important components such as immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, weak vitamins and minerals. growth factors, macrophages, neutrophils and lymphocytes – play an important role in reducing the risk of infection and increasing immunity in children early in life. Vitamins: Vitamins in colostrum are usually vitamins A, E, B2, B3, K... Lactose: Low Lactose content in colostrum helps babies enhance digestion and absorption of nutrients. In addition, colostrum contains high levels of chlorine and sodium. Trace elements such as copper, iron, zinc and some other minerals present in colostrum are significantly higher on average than regular breast milk, specifically with iron 3-5 times higher and copper is 6 times higher. Immune components: Each cell in colostrum has a certain immunity. Immunoglobulin: In colostrum contains a large amount of globulins that have immunity and fight against various diseases, and at the same time help strengthen the immune system and prevent the risk of neonatal infections in the first period of life.

3. What special effects does colostrum have?

Colostrum – A natural antibiotic for babies Doctors often encourage mothers to breastfeed as soon as possible. These first drops of colostrum not only bring great nutrient content, but the living cells in colostrum (also known as antibodies) play a role in stimulating the baby's body to create antibodies against against harmful agents, viruses that cause diseases, chronic diseases...
Colostrum plays the role of an antibiotic for babies but has absolutely no side effects. Experts evaluate colostrum as a natural vaccine with absolute safety. Children who are exclusively breastfed in the first 6 months of life will develop comprehensively both physically and mentally; and at the same time prevent respiratory diseases, measles or diarrhea. Colostrum helps the baby's brain develop Colostrum contains an important ingredient called ganglioside. Gangliosides are known to be a group of fats that are indispensable in the development of children's brains, in addition to helping to improve the intestinal system, preventing the possibility of intestinal inflammation by attracting harmful bacteria and neutralizing bacteria. mix them. Colostrum helps improve digestive system activity in babies When exposed to colostrum right at birth, because the fat content in colostrum is very low, babies absorb and digest it smoothly. At this time, the baby's food breakdown system has also just formed, so the antioxidants and immunoglobulins in colostrum not only help the baby avoid bleeding, but also help protect the baby's fragile intestinal wall. . In addition, colostrum also has a great effect of helping laxatives, promoting the child's body to quickly excrete stools, and at the same time eliminate excess bilirubin. This has the effect of preventing jaundice, reducing the risk of sensitization and allergies in children.

Colostrum contains ingredients that are extremely important for the development of the baby in the early stages of life. Therefore, mothers are often encouraged to breastfeed as soon as possible. This not only exposes the baby to the nutritional components of colostrum, but also increases the ability to stimulate the mother's milk glands, restores the uterus quickly, and prevents the risk of an infection. maternal morbidity after birth.

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