Colostrum

It’s made in pregnancy and for the first days after the birth of your baby. It varies in colour, but you may find it is thick and yellowish.

Rich in protein, fats and antibodies, it protects your baby against many diseases and also helps stabilise your baby’s blood sugars, protect your baby’s gut and clear the meconium - the dark, tar-like substance in your baby’s bowels during pregnancy.

You may produce colostrum in the few days before giving birth; your colostrum will be gradually replaced by breastmilk during the first week of breastfeeding.