Hey honey…
It’s colostrum again.
In my prenatal classes I aim to put as much emphasis on the first stage of milk. Colostrum. And yes, there are three stages of milk in a physiological process called Lactogenesis.
I teach not only the benefits of colostrum but the unbelievably small amount produced in pregnancy and immediately after birth. Most times it still doesn’t register how small those 2-5mL are and how often you’ll have to feed your babee with it until you see it.
Sometimes, I am able to hand express if they are comfortable so they can see for themselves that’s the milk is there and also understand how to remove milk before babee gets here.
Milk is ready and waiting for your babee. You begin producing milk around 16-22 weeks.
The power and chokehold that these small droplets of honey give new parents is inevitable. Most of the anxiety results from the the birth experience, whether traumatic or in knowledgeable staff with updated evidence based information. Which is where breastfeeding initiation begins. Many times the process doesn’t really click until parents get home in their own environment and can relax. Postpartum in the hospital is stressful too with multiple visits interrupting bonding and much needed sleep.
In that short phase and transition to life outside of the womb the body produces colostrum, aka "liquid gold"
In it’s essence it is a nutrient-rich, yellowish, thick substance almost like honey 😜 that plays a crucial role in the early stages of a babee’s life.
Would you believe it if I told you day one this and possibly up to 5ml is about all your babee will need in a day. One day.
Day Two GET READY honey! That babee is finna unfold on you!! It’s called the Second Day Syndrome where babees become more fussier and more ravenous than their first day of life. Your amount of milk will begin to gradually increase to 20-30mL within 7 days depending on the frequency of latching or nipple stimulation (if exclusively pumping) and milk removal you are doing.
Colostrum benefits include:
👉🏽Nutritional Powerhouse
👉🏽Immune Booster
👉🏽Gentle Laxative
👉🏽Digestive Aid
👉🏽Use of Facial Muscles
👉🏽Rhythmic Breathing
Nursing with colostrum may feel different from nursing with mature milk due to its thickness and smaller volume. But a few tips I give honeys to effectively latch and remove colostrum.
🍯Latch On Correctly
Babee is skin to skin turned in towards you. Think heart to heart to ensure good posture and alignment for babee which affects the latch as well. The bottom of your areola should touch babees chin first to active the reflex to open wide first then suck. You should be in the laid back position which elicits babees instinctual reflexes and ensures you bring babee to you. Many moms tend to lean into babee when giving the breast and this doesn’t create an deep enough latch. The most popular hold shown to you may be the football hold.
If so remember ALWAYS bring the babee to you. While learning this, be sure to “FLIP THE NIP” making sure your nipple is pointed upwards towards you. This enables babee to activate the sucking reflex when the nipple hits the roof of the mouth and enters towards the throat. With the wide open mouth they will tilt their head back slightly for next extension landland and attach.
🍯Frequent Nursing
Newborns have tiny stomachs, so it burns off fast and they hungry even faster but that’s okay. frequent nursing helps stimulate milk production.
🍯Hand Expression
Utilize hand expression to remove colostrum. Because of its viscosity it’s hard to pump and can cause nipple trauma and pain in the early days of feeding. Applying massage, warmth and gentle compression of the nipple and areola in a rhythmic patterns gets colostrum to let down. Learning hand expression helps to perform breast compressions during feeds.
🍯Breast Compression
If your babee is sleepy while latching or seems to be taking short breaks during feeding, gently compress your breast to encourage more colostrum flow. This can help your babee get more milk and stimulate milk production.
🍯Alternate Breasts
Offer both breasts during each feeding session to ensure that your babee gets colostrum from both sides and stimulates milk production equally.
🍯Comfortable Position
Laid back is the biological nursing position so that babee can utilize their reflexes for feeding. Choose a comfortable breastfeeding position Some popular positions include the cradle hold, football hold, and side-lying position.
🍯Seek Support
Breastmilk will not wait for you. Find support sooner than later. Don't hesitate to seek help if you encounter any difficulties or have concerns about breastfeeding with colostrum.
Breastfeeding with colostrum is a beautiful and natural way to nourish and bond with your newborn.
Embrace this special time, trust your body's ability to provide for your babee’s needs, and seek support when needed.
Are you ready for first latch? I have monthly virtual classes available. I also provide in home lactation visits for breastfeeding challenges too. I’d love to help honey.
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