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Question

Why is colostrum so important for babies?


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Solution

Colostrum:

  1. The 'first milk' the mother secretes after giving birth to a baby is referred to as colostrum. Compared to regular milk, it is a thick, yellowish fluid. It contains a lot of vitamins and antibodies.
  2. During the first few days of lactation, a baby obtains the mother's finest and most nourishing milk, known as colostrum.
  3. Just after the baby is born, the mother's mammary glands release the baby's first milk.
  4. It has a thicker consistency than regular milk and a faint yellow tint, which gives it a slightly different feel. This is because it contains a lot of protein and other nutrients.
  5. The infant needs certain nutrients and antibodies from the colostrum to help him or she adjusts to the outside environment. Immunoglobulin A, a kind of antibody found in abundance in colostrum, is crucial in the battle against numerous external diseases.
  6. The infant's digestive and respiratory systems are lined with immunoglobulin A and other antibodies. This serves as an infection-preventing barrier.
  7. Colostrums aid in the infant's development of healthy gut flora.
  8. Colostrum's high protein and nutritional content aids in the baby's early development and builds a strong foundation for future days. Colostrums assist the newborn's digesting and intestinal health.
  9. Therefore, it is very advised to avoid throwing away the colostrum.
  10. When a baby is unable to consume outside food, mammary milk is a rich source of nutrients for the infant. The baby can eat it as an entire meal.
  11. As milk transitions from colostrum to transitional milk and finally, to mature breast milk, the immunoglobulin concentration fluctuates.

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