Colostrum. What Is It

Did you know that the breasts of pregnant women begin to produce milk from about the 16th week of pregnancy? Many of them, however, find out only at a later stage, if their breasts begin to secrete. This first milk is called colostrum. It precedes the production of mature milk and differs from it in quantity, density, color and content.

Colostrum has a thicker consistency, yellow color (although the color may vary in women) and contains many nutrients for the baby - proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and antibodies that are important for the immune system. Fats are less than those in mature milk. This first milk also contains many protective, anti-inflammatory factors, which are the first immunization of the newborn.

It protects the child from bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases. Colostrum is also rich in growth factors that contribute to the development of immature digestive, nervous, immune, excretory and other systems. It protects the newborn baby from allergies and other types of food intolerances.

• essential nutrients - colostrum is rich in energy-producing ingredients such as carbohydrates, lipids and proteins, as well as vitamins and minerals such as calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium and zinc;
• Carbohydrates - from simple sugars to complex oligosaccharides, carbohydrates are an important source of energy. The carbohydrates in colostrum are represented exclusively by lactose;
• amino acids - the building blocks of proteins. They are important for nutrition, muscle development and the immune system;
• proteins - they are an essential nutrient for muscles and also involved in providing energy. The amount of protein is 4-5 times higher than in mature breast milk. This allows the newborn to receive more nutrients in a small amount of food. The proteins in colostrum are mainly albumins and globulins;
• vitamins - vitamins A, B2, B9, B12, and D are found in colostrum. They are important for processes such as transport through cell walls and processing of other nutrients;

   

• important minerals and ions - calcium, chloride, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc. Minerals are involved in metabolism and are also important building blocks of bones and teeth;

   

• immunoglobulins (Ig) - they identify, attack and neutralize foreign bodies such as bacteria and viruses. The absorption of immunoglobulins is essential for the passive immunity of newborns after birth;

IgG - Colostrum contains more IgG than all other immunoglobulins. It provides much of the immune protection against pathogenic microorganisms. IgG also helps to initiate a cascade of other immune functions.

IgA - strategically resides in areas such as the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system and urogenital tract. There it plays a crucial role in mucosal immunity, preventing the colonization of specific pathogens.

IgM   - the first immunoglobulin that responds to pathogens that enter the body (attacks them and makes them inactive).

IgE - plays an important role in allergic reactions and the response to parasites in the digestive system.

IgD - its functions are closely related to IgM. It sends a signal to the B cells and activates them. IgD is involved with other immunoglobulins in strengthening the immune system.

• cytokines - colostrum contains many of these modifiers of the biological response. They could also be classified as protein, peptide or glycoprotein signaling molecules used in cellular communications. Cytokines have a specific role as regulators of epithelial growth and cell development (including inflammation of the intestine and recovery from mucosal damage). They are also important mediators in the regulation of immune and inflammatory responses;
• lactoferrin - an iron-binding glycoprotein that is one of the antimicrobial components of the immune system, fighting bacteria in the body. Its presence in the extracellular spaces keeps iron levels low, which inhibits bacterial growth. Lactoferrin inhibits the growth of specific microorganisms, such as E. coli and salmonella. It also has an antiviral effect;
• lysozyme - an antibacterial enzyme that destroys the cell walls of pathogenic bacteria. A special feature of lysozyme is its interaction with other components of colostrum. They have been shown to work synergistically with lactoperoxidase, IgA and lactoferrin;
• lactalbumin - an important nutrient and water-soluble protein found in milk. Contains essential amino acids necessary for the growth and development of the body;
• lactoperoxidase - a major antibacterial enzyme found in colostrum. Protects the lactating mammary gland from infections. It is partially activated by the formation of a complex with lysozyme. Also together with lactoferrin have antibacterial effects. Some viruses, such as polioviruses, are sensitive to the toxic effects of lactoperoxidase;
• Proline-rich polypeptides (PRPs) - small chains of amino acids that have a strong effect in initiating and balancing immune responses. Their functions include modulating the immune system (signaling, promoting the growth and differentiation of B-cells, stimulating NK cells, activity and promoting the spread of leukocytes);
• growth factors - stimulate cell growth, cell differentiation and cell maturation. Growth factors act as signaling molecules from one cell to another and regulate various cellular processes;

Epidermal growth factor - plays an important role in regulating cell growth, proliferation (increasing the number of cells) and differentiation (development of specialized cells).

Fibroblast growth factor - is involved in the growth of new blood vessels and wound healing.

Insulin-like growth factor - plays an important role in the growth of the child's body and has an anabolic effect in adults.

Platelet growth factor - one of many proteins that regulate cell growth and division, and also plays an important role in the formation of blood vessels.

Transforming growth factor (TGF-alpha and TGF-beta) - TGF-alpha causes the development of epithelial tissue. TGF-beta plays a crucial role in tissue regeneration, cell differentiation (formation of specialized cells), bone cartilage formation and regulation of the immune system.

Colostrum is important for your baby for many reasons. Here are some of them:

• colostrum is produced in very small quantities, which are sufficient for the small stomachs of newborns, For example, during the first 24 hours the newborn takes between 2-10 ml per meal;
• provides immune protection - the newborn's immune system is far from fully developed. Therefore, they are vulnerable to disease and require protection from external sources. This is one of the great benefits of colostrum (and later of mature milk), as it is a concentrated source of immune defenses;
• this valuable fluid has a mild laxative effect, which helps the baby to excrete the first stool - meconium. This helps to remove excess bilirubin and prevent jaundice.

These immune factors include antibodies, white blood cells, prebiotics and probiotics that are not found in formula. Due to this fact, colostrum is also called a natural vaccine for newborns!

Evidence that a stable intestinal microbiome is important for health still  continues to emerge. Colostrum helps to create such a microbiome. In babies, the intestines are still permeable, which means that potentially harmful substances can damage them more easily. The first milk helps to provide the intestinal barrier.

Exclusive breastfeeding leads to the creation of a normal and healthy colonization of bacteria in the intestines of the newborn. There are significant differences in the bacteria that are found in the intestinal tract of breastfed babies and those in the intestines of formula-fed babies.

Even small amounts of formula can lead to changes in the baby's gut microbiome that increase the risk of various health problems.

Don't deprive your baby of colostrum!

On the recommendation of the World Health Organization, the newborn baby is placed on the mother's breast in the first 30 minutes. But this recommendation is difficult to implement in our country. In our country, healthy, full-term newborns are breastfed at the earliest at 4 hours after birth.

The advantage of early breastfeeding is that an attachment is formed, which makes the mother more likely to want to feed her baby this way. The probability of longer lactation increases . The baby receives the valuable colostrum and a connection is established between the mother and the child. Early breastfeeding stimulates the formation of oxytocin, which helps to shrink the uterus and stop bleeding.

If for some reason you are separated from the baby after birth, you could express the colostrum with a breast pump and insist that it be offered to the baby by the medical staff. Most often this happens after a cesarean section, as the mother needs a day or two to recover.

In the first days after birth, it is very important to breastfeed as often as possible. The more often the baby sucks, the more the mammary gland secretes colostrum. If this is not possible, it is desirable to stimulate the breast with a breast pump.

Four to six days later, the so-called transitional milk, which is characterized by a higher energy content (of fats and carbohydrates) and lower of protein than colostrum. From the 11th day the mature milk is separated . It has the highest energy value - 70 kcal / 100 ml (292 kJ).