Colostrum, also known as the superfood for your baby, is the first milk that a mother’s body produces. Colostrum supports your baby’s immune system as it is rich in a vital antibody called secreted IgA (slgA) that will protect the baby against diseases by lining the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to their intestines.
Colostrum prepares your baby for larger feeds ahead and is packed with highly concentrated proteins and nutrients. Feeding babies from the first day teaches them how to coordinate sucking, swallowing, and breathing.
Typically, mothers produce this sticky, yellow fluid exclusively for about two to five days after giving birth to nourish their newborn. Your baby will receive approximately one-half to 1 teaspoon of colostrum divided over several feedings for the first couple of days.
Recognizing Hunger Cues
It is essential to recognize the different hunger cues that your baby signals and feed them as frequently as they wish, known as responsive feeding. This helps to develop positive eating behaviours from the get-go.
Babies Need A Good Latch for Proper Feeding
Latching refers to the process by which a breastfeeding baby takes their mother’s nipple and areola (the dark-coloured skin that surrounds the nipple) into their mouth to suck. Babies usually start slowly with a few sucks before suckling strongly and deeply.
Avoiding Painful Feedings
To avoid painful feeding for you and your baby, make sure that the baby’s chin is touching your breast and their nose is clear so they can breathe. To get a good latch, you can encourage your baby to open their mouth wide by gently touching your nipple against their upper lip. Another essential step is to ensure that their mouth covers the nipple and a large amount of areola.
Breastfeeding can take time and practice for you and your baby, so there is no reason to panic if it takes a while to get this process going. Supporting a breastfeeding mom is vital to both mom’s and the baby’s health.
If your baby is slow to latch, it doesn’t necessarily mean that something is wrong. That said, if you’re concerned about any ongoing issues, be sure to consult a physician. There are many alternative ways to feed your little one, which you can discuss with a health professional in greater detail should the need or desire arise.
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