Breastfeeding and colostrum

Colostrum is the first secretion we have, it is a living tissue. It looks like a yellowish liquid and thicker than milk, the amount is reduced, they are drops, just and necessary to provide the baby with anti-infective agents, probiotics, and nutrients. And so that they also learn to coordinate suction – swallowing – breathing.

How can we do to see if there is colostrum? Manual Extraction

This tool will be very useful to us throughout breastfeeding, starting with pregnancy.

If we are undergoing a healthy pregnancy, with no contraindication to having sexual intercourse, we can practice the maneuver without any problem. First to get to know and become familiar with our boobs, second to take advantage of if a drop of colostrum comes out, apply it. But, it may or may not come out at this stage and both situations are expected and do not condition anything.

• First we can perform some gentle chest massages to stimulate the ejection reflex.
• With fingers in “C”, two 2/3 cm from the nipple. Aligned yolk-nipple-yolk.
• Carry back, as in the direction of the ribs.
• From there press gently, as if we wanted to put our fingers together. Then release, repeat.

What can we use the maneuver for at the beginning? The first basic need of a newborn is contact, being skin to skin, movement, support and lastly food. It is vital to find that new form in the bond that was previously inside the womb and now must continue but outside, on the other side of the skin.