As a new mom, you've probably been hearing everyone rave about colostrum. But when can you expect it to arrive after giving birth? Don't worry, we're here to answer all of your questions on this vital subject.
What is Colostrum?
We know you already have a good idea of what colostrum is, but let's just sum it up for those who don't. Colostrum is the first nutrient-rich milk produced by mothers in preparation for their newborn babies before breast milk takes over.
This 'liquid gold' has special components that aid in immunity boost and help infants develop resistance against infections and diseases (because nobody wants their baby getting sick).
So if we understand how important colostrum is, the real question now becomes: "When does Colostrum appear?"
When Will Your Body Start Producing It?
Congratulations! Once again, moms win because they produce everything necessary for sustaining lives. That includes producing liquid wonder - colostrums!
Colostrums are produced during pregnancy as early as 16 weeks along (yay!) instead of immediately post-birth. This flow continues until day two or three after delivery while waiting on established lactation processes to take full effect (we bet biology never sounded this cool).
To put things into perspective: Before mothers give birth, they begin undergoing several physical changes initiated by hormones (thanks Hormones!) responsible for its production; some people might even leak small quantities from time-to-time.
Interestingly enough, coinciding with this abundance lies its molecular make-up revealing other numerous benefits tailored towards newborns' nutritional requirements even though not exclusive to them only:
- Rich source of antibodies
- Immunoglobulins such as IgA and secretory IgA which protects their intestines from viral activity
- Promotes the babies' natural physical development and growth
- Contains vital nutrients such as fats, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates that keep them healthy
Now it's all starting to make sense. But what about when the baby arrives?
When Does It Begin Flowing for Newborns?
The transfer of colostrum from momma to baby begins immediately after birth. The first couple of days post-delivery typically mark increased activity in infant suckling reflexes with breast engorgement making this exchange process easier.
Based on personal accounts (although we’re not encouraging you to join a support group) on when they began producing colostrums:
- 37 weeks: observed was a thin watery yellowish discharge which likely indicates early lactation along with its presence.
- Day one/Immediately post-birth: Successful attempts at breastfeeding or expressing show characteristic features consisting of little drops can be seen. Next...
However, based on observations some moms may face slight delays around production due either due to health complications or premature births; any concerns should be addressed by an experienced medical professional ASAP.
But now knowing fully well that everyone isn't alike (duh!) moms initially produce distinct volumes suited towards newborn nutritional requirements averaging between half an ounce and two ounces during their initial feeding periods (now that’s some quantity comparison…whoa)
Conclusion
Colostrum being an excellent source of nutrition for newborns contains numerous benefits including antibodies, immunoglobulins protection mechanism among other nutrient components – hence every new mom looking towards optimizing her child's optimal health will be interested in learning more about it while eagerly anticipating its onset. With knowledge acquired from this article; ‘when does Colostrum arrive,’ you can confidently answer the question!