Colostrum – baby’s first superfood

Undecided how to feed your baby? Not sure that you want to breastfeed? This article is for you.

We understand, it’s a big decision with so many factors that are completely personal to you, your family, culture and those around you. Lots of things influence your decision on how to feed your baby. That’s why being well informed and making the right decision for you is so important.

To help you make your decision, you may want to look at this NHS page on the benefits of breastfeeding and take a look at the “Human Milk, Tailor-Made For Tiny Humans” advert.

Colostrum – baby’s first superfood

Even if you’re undecided about breastfeeding, consider giving your baby the first milk – colostrum. We know it’s so important for your baby as it:

• It’s like their first immunisation – providing vital antibodies (protective factors). In fact, colostrum is super concentrated with these immune properties and is less about nutrition and more about protecting baby.
• It is a living fluid, containing stem cells that can change into other bodily cells (such as brain cells, fat, bone, liver) and act as a repair system (that’s why some people choose to collect stem cells from the placenta for later in life!).
• It is a laxative and helps get the baby’s bowels moving, flushing out the first meconium poo and excess red blood cells. This helps to reduce the chances of your baby becoming jaundiced in the days after birth, as their immature liver can struggle to process these excess blood cells, but frequent pooing helps them pass through their system.

Paints baby’s gut and helps the development of the microbiome – a healthy microbiome helps prevent diseases in later life.