Colostrum is the first breast milk the body makes, in late pregnancy and the first days after birth. It is thick, often yellow and rich in antibodies that help protect a newborn baby.
The breasts start making colostrum during pregnancy, and some people notice small drops leaking before the birth. After the baby is born, colostrum is the only milk for the first few days. Over the next days it slowly changes into transitional milk and then mature breast milk, which is thinner and comes in larger amounts.
Colostrum is usually thick and sticky. It is often yellow or golden, but it can also be clear or creamy. The body makes only small amounts, often a few teaspoons at each feed. That is normal, because a newborn's stomach is very small.
Colostrum is rich in antibodies, protein and other substances that help support a baby's immune system and gut. The World Health Organization recommends starting breastfeeding within the first hour after birth so the baby gets colostrum early. Frequent feeding in these first days also helps to build up the milk supply, with the help of hormones such as oxytocin.
Some parents are advised by a midwife to hand express and store colostrum in late pregnancy, for example if they have diabetes. This should only be done with advice from a midwife or doctor, who can explain when to start and how to store it.
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