Q: Leaky breasts?
Posted
Monday, April 23, 2007 4:09 PM
Q: My breasts are
leaking, and I haven’t even given birth yet! Why? And what should I do about
it?
A: The thick,
yellow liquid that's leaking out of your breasts is called
colostrum, and it's absolutely normal. This is just another part of your body
getting ready for baby! Colostrum is chock full of protein,
antibodies and immunoglobulins, and
will protect baby from infections and help get out
that first poop of meconium. It's the perfect food for baby's first
days --
easy to digest and loaded with just the right amount of nutrients. Your
body starts making colostrum just three or four months into pregnancy,
which is why this valuable substance is already starting to leak. By
the time you give birth, the colostrum will probably be pale or clear.
It will keep
on coming until a few days after delivery, when it switches over to
mature
breast milk. For now, grab a couple of nursing pads to soak up the
goods, and no one will notice a thing.
QA Index
Posted by
Nest Paula
Filed under: Symptoms