" use the plastic spoons that come with the food  trays to catch the
drops of pregnancy milk (I hate using the word 'colostrum'  with new
mothers,
because it reinforces the popular notion that there is no milk yet,<snip>.
    warmly,

Nikki Lee RN, MS, Mother of 2, IBCLC, CCE"

"I use the phrase "newborn milk" for the same reason :-).
-Claire Bloodgood, IBCLC"


What is wrong with teaching your new moms the truth? Colostrum is Awesome!!
It is a truly  magical, and yes, a filling fluid! How about educating them
on its' qualities, which are custom-made, uniquely designed for their very
own newborns? Educate them on how the quantity is perfect for their babies'
marble sized tummy. " A little bit goes a long way!"

Let them know that the reason their 2 day old baby is nursing almost
constantly is NOT because moms' milk isn't in yet and he is starving, but
rather because he simply wants more and this behavior encourages his tummy
to become larger, in order to accommodate the soon-to-be onslaught of
breastmilk. This cluster feeding behavior also encourages the milk to 'come
in' quicker and in adequate proportions. Mother Nature has designed all
this for the survival of our species.

By NOT educating them, by not using "the dirty little word", YOU are
reinforcing the notion that colostrum is not valuable and therefore, not
worth mentioning.

But, by educating them about the importance of colostrum, you are giving
them a better understanding of the amazing world of breastfeeding and the
unsurpassed advantages of human milk, in ALL its' variations.

If we, as LCs, choose not to educate new moms on the importance of
colostrum and the natural process of the first 3 days (until the "real"
milk comes in), WHO will???  Pediatricians? OB/GYNs? RNS? PLEASE rethink
your position, your terminology and use the word COLOSTRUM when speaking
with new parents.

Ellen Penchuk, IBCLC, RLC

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