Comparison of Breastmilk

Comparison of Colostrum (day 1) and Mature Human Milk (day 14)

Constituents (per liter)           Colostrum            Mature Milk
Energy (kcal/dl)                           57.0                          65.0
Lactose (gm)                                 20.0                          35.0
proteins (gm)                                32.0                            9.0
Fat (gm)                                         12.0                           29.0

The protein content of colostrum is largely a concentration of immunoglobulins, especially secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA). Colostrum also provides lactose which prevents hypoglycemia and facilitates the passage of meconium, which in turns aids the excretion of bilirubin.

Mature human milk

Approximately 7 to 10 days after delivery, milk is defined as “transitional.”  By 14 days milk is considered “mature.”  A volume of 600-900 ml can eventually produced every 24 hours and has a biochemical constituents of mature milk.

Mature milk: Foremilk vs. Hindmilk

It is important to recognize that fat content is variable during feeding and is influenced by a number of factors.  The fat content in foremilk, the milk secreted at the beginning of breastfeeding, is relatively low in comparison to the higher fat levels present in milk secreted during feeding. Fat content in hindmilk, available near the end of feeding, can be 5-6% in fat compared to foremilk.

Breast crawl – Initiation of breastfeeding