During pregnancy your body starts creating colostrum as your breasts prepare to nurse your unborn baby. Some women begin leaking colostrum weeks or months before delivery. For first time moms who are unaware of what this is it can be a bit frightening and worrisome until they talk to their doctor or midwife who assure them it is normal. First time moms may start leaking colostrum during the third trimester, while previous mothers may start leaking as early as the second trimester.

Colostrum is a thick and sticky, yellow to orange colored milk that is created by your breasts to give your baby the nutrition he needs immediately after birth. It is low in fat, high in carbohydrates and has a laxative effect on the baby which helps him pass the first meconium stools that are sitting in his intestines. This also helps get rid of the bile and helps lessen the chance of jaundice in your newborn.

Not only does it provide nutrition, but also contains cells that act as agents in protecting your newborn against germs. The concentration of immune factors is much higher in the colostrum than it is in the later mature milk that your baby will receive when your milk comes in.

It is important if you plan on to nursing to nurse frequently and often during the first few days of your babies life so that your baby not only gets all the colostrum and antibodies he needs, but also so that your milk comes in strong.

Colostrum is also a 100% safe vaccine for your baby. Many parents will refuse to have the eye drops delivered to their babies after birth, and will instead use their colostrum to rub on their babies eyes in hopes of killing bacteria and preventing infection. This vaccine is referred to as immunoglobulin A (IgA) and is different from the immunoglobulin G (IgG) that your baby received from the placenta while you were pregnant. IgG worked through the baby’s circulatory system, but IgA protects the baby in the places most likely to come under attack from germs, namely the mucous membranes in the throat, lungs, and intestines.

If you do not start leaking colostrum during your pregnancy, it is not a cause for concern. Not all pregnant women leak before their baby is born and it is not known to have any effect on the success or failure of a mother nursing her newborn.

By Jennifer Houck

Breastfeeding is the most natural, beneficial way to feed your infant. Breastfeeding provides your child an initial protection from disease and a boost to the child’s own immune system. Breast-fed infants experience less diarrhea than bottle-fed babies and breast milk is the ultimate form of nutrition for your baby. Breastfeeding will not only be of the most nutritional benefit to you baby, but studies have shown that babies who are breast-fed develop higher IQs than bottle fed babies. When a baby is ill or has diarrhea, breast milk is the most easily digestible form nutrition available.

Your baby could live exclusively from beast milk for the first 6 months of his or her life. The amount of breast milk you produce corresponds with the demand of the baby. As your child grows, your milk supply will increase accordingly. Well-nourished mothers should have little or no problems accommodating the growing appetite of her child. Breast-fed babies have a deep emotional bond with their mothers and will provide the mother with health and emotional benefits as well. Breast-feeding will reduce the mother’s risk of post-partum hemorrhaging, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and anemia. Breast-feeding also offers a natural way to space the births of your children, as you will not ovulate while breastfeeding.

By breast-feeding your child, you will save thousands of dollars on the cost of formula and bottles. There is no more natural and environmentally friendly way to feed your child. Unless you have been diagnosed with HIV, have untreated tuberculosis, are dependent on drugs or alcohol, or have the need for certain medications regularly, consider breast feeding as the best, most economical way to feed your child. Speak with your doctor about any existing health conditions or other factors that may prevent you from breastfeeding.

About the Author
Jennifer Houck is a proud attachment mom to two beautiful girls. Be sure to visit her at http://www.attachmentmoms.com and http://www.ilovebeingamom.com.