Out of all the extraordinary things the body does during pregnancy and birth, producing colostrum is one of the most intricate and often one of the most misunderstood.
In my years supporting families in the early postnatal period, I still regularly hear new mothers say, ‘My milk hasn’t come in yet.’ And very often, what they are already producing is exactly what their baby needs - colostrum.
Understanding what colostrum is, how it works and why it is enough in the early days can really transform how you feel about feeding your newborn. Because in those first few days many parents quietly worry whether their baby is getting enough.
What is colostrum?
Colostrum is the very first milk your body produces for your baby. It usually begins forming during pregnancy, often in the second or third trimester, and it is the milk your baby receives in the first days after birth before your milk volume increases.
You might hear it called ‘liquid gold.’ This nickname comes partly from its rich golden colour and thick consistency, but also because of how valuable it is. Colostrum is concentrated and powerful and is perfectly designed for your baby’s needs in the very first days of life.
Your baby’s stomach is extremely small at birth, around the size of a cherry on day one, and so colostrum is produced in small amounts. But those amounts are exactly the right quantity for your baby.
Small does not mean insufficient. It is very much intentional.
What makes colostrum so special?
Colostrum is very different from the milk your body produces later. It is rich in protective and developmental components that support your baby as they adjust to life outside the womb.
It is also uniquely tailored for your baby. When your baby feeds, their saliva interacts with receptors in the breast, helping your body subtly adapt the composition of your milk to meet your baby’s changing needs and environment.
This is one of the reasons colostrum is so remarkable. It isn’t just nourishment, it’s responsive protection designed specifically for your baby.
Colostrum contains:
- High levels of antibodies that help protect against infection
- White blood cells that support your baby’s developing immune system
- Vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that support growth and development
- High levels of Vitamin A, which supports vision, skin health and immunity
It also gently coats your baby’s intestines, helping to protect the gut and support the development of a healthy digestive system. Because of these powerful protective properties, colostrum is often prioritised for babies who are born prematurely or who need extra support after birth.
Even very small amounts are valuable, and there truly is nothing else quite like it.
When does colostrum start being produced?
Your body begins producing colostrum during pregnancy, usually from around the second trimester onwards. Some women notice small drops of thick yellow fluid leaking from their breasts during the later stages of pregnancy, while others may not notice anything at all. Both experiences are completely normal.
Not seeing colostrum during pregnancy does not mean your body isn’t producing it or that you won’t be able to feed your baby. For many women, colostrum simply becomes noticeable after birth, when their baby begins feeding.
Why we’re not waiting for milk to “come in”
It is common for new mothers to feel worried about whether their baby is getting enough milk in the first few days. This is often because colostrum is produced in small amounts, and it can feel very different from the fuller breasts that come when milk volume increases later.
But those early small feeds are exactly how feeding is designed to work. Your baby’s stomach is tiny, and colostrum is perfectly matched to those small feeding volumes. It provides concentrated nutrition while also helping your baby’s body adjust to life outside the womb.
Frequent feeding in the early days is not a sign that something is wrong. It is a normal and important part of establishing feeding.
Why frequent feeding matters
Newborn babies usually feed little and often, with some babies feeding every hour or two in the early days. It is recommended to feed responsively by watching for your baby’s feeding cues. These might include turning their head, opening and closing their mouth, sucking on their hands or beginning to stir.
These cues are your baby’s way of telling you they are ready to feed. In the early days, it’s usually recommended not to leave longer than around three hours between feeds.
These early, frequent feeds are important for several reasons.
Firstly, babies are very intuitive. Feeding regularly helps them receive exactly the amount of colostrum they need.
Secondly, each feed gently stimulates your breasts to increase milk production over the following days.
Close contact also plays an important role. Holding your baby skin-to-skin can help encourage feeding, support their transition to life outside the womb, and promote bonding and attachment. In those early days babies don’t just need feeding, they also need closeness, warmth and reassurance.
For mothers who are hoping to exclusively breastfeed, these early feeds are particularly important in helping to establish milk supply. The more often your baby feeds, the more signals your body receives to continue producing milk. In simple terms, feeding your baby helps your body learn how much milk to make.
Colostrum matters, however you feed your baby
Colostrum is valuable whether or not you plan to exclusively breastfeed. Some families choose to combine breastfeeding and formula feeding in the early days, while others may offer expressed colostrum alongside formula. Even small amounts still provide the protective antibodies and immune support that make colostrum so special.
Feeding your baby is not about one single path. It is about finding what works best for you and your baby, with the right support and information along the way. But whatever feeding journey you take, colostrum remains a remarkable first milk, carefully created by your body for your baby, to support their earliest days in the world.
Midwife insight
In my work supporting families after birth, I often reassure new mothers that the early days are not just about producing large amounts of milk. They are about connection, frequent feeding and allowing your body and baby to learn from each other.
Colostrum may only appear in drops or small teaspoons at first, but those drops are incredibly powerful as they provide protection, nourishment and the first building blocks of your baby’s immune system.
Trust that your body has already begun the process of feeding your baby, and in those first golden days, what you are producing is exactly what your baby needs.
