Unfortunate myths about colostrum waste a source of miracle for newborn babies in the first place

According to a recent survey, still 42% of Vietnamese people give up colostrum for babies in the first days after birth, so precious drops of milk are wasted. This is the result of unfortunate misconceptions in society.

What is colostrum for babies?

In English there is no word " colostrum ", but the first milk produced in the breast is called "colostrum" - meaning "first golden milk". However, it is unknown where the Vietnamese name is colostrum.

This naming method caused many misunderstandings about the first precious golden milk. That it is young, immature means not ripe, it is not good enough, drinking it into your baby will have colic. 

Many Vietnamese people express colostrum in the first days after giving birth and wait until the "clear milk" is over, then what is the point of "stuffing hot sticky rice to make the milk in the breast quickly ripen" and the milk has "turned white"? be breastfed. This misconception is very damaging. It is "wrong one drink, go a mile!".

Why do many mothers complain that they are still born and still cannot see the milk?

Our babies lose their chance to fully receive precious colostrum! To appreciate this particular milk, perhaps we should start by calling it "the first golden milk".

Many mothers complained: "I have given birth for two days, but I still have no milk"; "After giving birth, I can only suck a little milk, if I do not breastfeed, I am afraid my baby will become hungry"; "I ate the hoofs, stuffed my breasts until the third day that the milk came back"; "I did everything but 10 days have not enough milk to breastfeed." Actually, these are misunderstandings because of not understanding about the milk mechanism.

Normally, around 16-20 weeks of pregnancy, a complete process of milk-producing cells (lactocytes - milk follicles) takes place in the mother's breast, and the first drops of golden milk begin to be produced. to about 72 hours after birth.

Thus, golden milk is first available in the mother's breast before the mother goes into labor. Therefore, mothers who give birth prematurely, give birth normally and by cesarean section all have the first golden milk available for their babies. In order for the first golden milk to release promptly, it is necessary to have the presence of the hormone oxytocin. This hormone can be obtained much after giving birth if the mother is given skin to the mother's skin immediately after giving birth and the breast is suckled continuously as soon as possible.

Colostrum: Unfortunately misconceptions

Colostrum for newborn babies - The explanation of color

The first yellow milk color is not the same as the old milk color: the first yellow milk may be dark yellow, light yellow, clear white, pinkish, brownish, slightly orange ... Because of its appearance, there is a misconception that colostrum which means "still green, young", not ripe enough, so it cannot be used. Another bewildered mother: "Did you see colostrum, but it was clear, dirty, not sure if it could be used, or had to squeeze it out until it was white?".

The first form of golden milk is not the same as the form of old milk: depending on the case, the first golden milk may be thick, even sticky, like glue.

The first golden milk is not the same as the old milk: the first golden milk has 8-12 times more concentrated antibodies than the old milk, the first golden milk has more salt and less sugar than the old milk.

The first amount of golden milk is not the same as the amount of old milk: the first golden milk is only a few milliliters and is secreted in small amounts, every hour (every hour can be a new one) in the first day after birth and will increase gradually in the the next day.

Unfortunate myths about colostrum

All of these characteristics are consistent with the instinctive reflexes, skin-to-skin needs of both mother and child, sucking and swallowing movements, infant's stomach capacity, and infant digestive system.

If we think that colostrum must look like old milk, must be a ray, be at least a few tens of milliliters right after birth, your baby should be able to suckle and sleep for 2-3 hours (like a baby Powdered milk for children), if it is considered a "mother with milk", the inevitable consequence is that the pregnant woman, after giving birth, "waits for the milk to come" without breastfeeding immediately. The most common harm of this misconception is that mothers always pay attention to bring infant formula and delivery bottles, in order to prevent if the mother has finished giving birth without milk, making this become sticky. experience this for someone else before going to the maternity home.

Due to the misunderstanding of the first golden milk and the importance of this breastfeeding, many people believe that the recommendation of WHO and UNICEF to breastfeed the baby right after birth and nothing but breast milk is a suggestion " Science theory "," away from reality "!

What is the distance between "science" and "reality"? Let's explore this distance to eliminate harmful misconceptions that prevent babies from fully enjoying the benefits of the "golden 72 hours of mother's colostrum" that every child should enjoy.

See more:

Compare 3 types of colostrum that are good for babies

TOP 4 types of colostrum best for babies when mothers do not have milk

Revealing about 72 golden hours to stimulate colostrum after giving birth for mothers about to pass through

to discuss and update information with other parents!