Colostrum

Even though I am still breastfeeding Ying Ying about 3-4x a day, my milk supply has long dwindled down to nil due to pregnancy hormones. So Ying Ying is just suckling mainly for comfort and security.

Last Sunday, I didn't get to nurse Ying Ying for the entire day - husband and I deposited her with my in-laws cos we needed to run some errands. By the time I finally got down to nursing her at night, I felt a little bit full in the breasts. I squeezed a little and to my surprise, there was a tiny drop of transparent liquid oozing out. I believe it was colostrum because it was thick and sticky like glue.

I remember a friend who was also nursing her elder child during pregnancy once shared me she started produce colostrum a couple of months before she delivered. Prior to that, her child had chosen to stop breastfeeding for a while because she didn't have any milk for him. But he resumed when the colostrum came in. I didn't really believe it until now - I had thought we are only capable of producing colostrum shortly before birth.

For those who do not know, colostrum (also known as first milk) is power-packed with nutrients and antibodies to protect the newborn from harmful viruses and bacteria. I am so glad Ying Ying get to benefit from her sister's first milk. Her cut on the lip is healing very well now and for all we know, it could be the miracle of the colostrum!

I think my production of colostrum also signals the beginning of the 3rd trimester for me. (One trimester of pregnancy is abt 12wks long.) I am 27wks now and I am beginning to feel the strain of the additional load. In the meantime, no.2 has been really active and her kicks are getting stronger by the day. I can feel her moving around in the womb a lot, especially at night. It is as if she knows my world has been revolving around her older sister and so she is reminding me, "Hey, don't forget about me!" I can't wait to welcome this little one into our family. :)