Does “diaper mother” know the difference between colostrum and mature milk?
What is colostrum?
Colostrum is produced from the moment the baby is in the womb and is secreted within the first 2-3 days after birth. This is a precious, yellow-colored milk that provides many antibodies and nutrients, helps strengthen the immune system, resistance, and helps children reduce the risk of diseases in the first months of life.
Pregnant mothers are instructed to breastfeed their babies colostrum as soon as possible after birth at Hong Ngoc Hospital
Normally, colostrum is formed when a woman is 7 months or more pregnant. Signs of colostrum are the nipples with tiny white spots, the breasts are tight and painful, which can make the mother itchy and uncomfortable.
Colostrum appears most in the first 48 hours after birth. This is a rich source of nutritious milk, so try to breastfeed your baby as soon as possible to enjoy the first precious drops of colostrum.
What is mature milk?
Mature milk appears after colostrum, usually starting at the end of the 2nd week postpartum. Mature milk is secreted in large quantities, is white in color, thinner than colostrum and more watery.
The composition of mature milk is rich in water, fat, vitamins and other trace elements. In addition, it contains digestive enzymes and immune substances to help your baby grow up healthy.
What is the difference between colostrum and mature milk?
Both are breast milk, but the composition and effects of colostrum and mature milk are different. Let’s find out those differences through some of the characteristics below:
Lactation time
Colostrum is secreted within the first 72 hours after birth. The amount of colostrum more or less depends on the body of each person. Normally, the amount of colostrum secreted ranges from 10 to 100ml/day.
– Mature milk begins to appear in the last days of the 2nd week after birth. This is a long-lasting maintenance milk to provide for nursing babies.
Nutritional ingredients
Protein: The protein content of colostrum is 5 times higher than that of mature milk.
Lactose: Lactose content in colostrum is low, so it helps the baby’s digestive system to absorb nutrients. The amount of lactose in colostrum is only 1/3 of that of mature milk, glucose in colostrum is only 1/20 of the sugar in mature milk.
– Other micronutrients: Colostrum contains a lot of chlorine, sodium, trace elements such as zinc, iron, copper, vitamins A, E, B2, B3, K…. are good for the development of children. The composition of mature milk also contains these nutrients but varies depending on the food consumed by the mother.
– Immunoglobulin: In colostrum contains a large amount of globulin capable of enhancing immunity, helping the baby fight some common diseases.
In mature milk, this concentration is less. Instead, mature milk is rich in fat, carbohydrates, and calories.
Breast milk is a valuable source of nutrition for babies in the first few months of life
Immunity
Breast milk contains many natural antibodies that no other formula milk has. In particular, each colostrum cell has a certain immunity, so it is always considered the most precious milk line for babies.
Colostrum acts as an antibiotic for the baby without any side effects. The safety of colostrum is assessed by experts as absolute, so mothers are always encouraged to breastfeed their babies as early and as long as possible.
Mature milk, although less immunogenic than colostrum, is still the best milk for babies, much better than other formulas. Babies who are exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life often develop comprehensively both physically and mentally.
In addition, babies also have stronger immune systems, better digestion than formula-fed babies.
What do mothers need to do to fully breastfeed their babies and maintain breastfeeding for a long time?
According to Doctor Doan Ngoc Minh – Deputy Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, in charge of the program “Breastfeeding” of Hong Ngoc General Hospital, in order for children to enjoy a valuable source of colostrum as well as maintain long-term breastfeeding, mothers The following measures may be taken:
Skin-to-skin immediately after birth
Putting the baby skin-to-skin with the mother right after birth is an effective way to stimulate milk. When a mother holds her baby in her arms, happy emotions will stimulate the production of milk-producing hormones so that milk comes in sooner and more often.
Babies can be skin-to-skin for up to 90 minutes right after birth at Hong Ngoc Hospital, helping to stimulate breast milk faster
Cuddle your baby often
Regular cuddling not only creates a spiritual bond of motherhood, but also an effective way to stimulate milk for mothers after birth. Holding your baby increases oxytocin and prolactin levels in the mother’s body. These are two hormones that govern lactation, the more this hormone is produced, the more breast milk is secreted.
Breastfeed your baby right after birth and breastfeed often
Immediately after giving birth, mothers should breastfeed babies as soon as possible to quickly return milk, even for mothers who give birth naturally or by caesarean section. In addition, early breastfeeding also helps the uterus contract better to push out all the fluid.
Guaranteed nutrition
Mothers should add enough nutrients such as iron, DHA, calcium, foods rich in protein, fiber… to recover faster and improve the quality of breast milk.
Rest much
After giving birth, the mother should ask the help of relatives to take care of the baby to have more time to rest. When resting, the mother’s body not only recovers quickly, but also increases the ability to produce milk.
Keep your mind at ease
Always happy, optimistic and confident that you have enough milk for your baby, more breast milk will come. Women should avoid negative feelings, stress, and tension because it will affect the mother’s milk less.
Breast milk is the best food for babies and young children. Therefore, right after giving birth, mothers should try to breastfeed their babies early and exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 months of life so that their babies have a healthy immune system and comprehensive development.
at Blogtuan.info – Source: Kenh14.Vn – Read the original article here
