Breast Milk
Breast Milk ( 5 Questions)
A nurse is educating a pregnant client about the phases of lactation and breast milk composition.
The nurse explains that colostrum is the first milk produced during pregnancy and the first few days postpartum.
Which of the following information should the nurse include about colostrum? (Select all that apply.)
Colostrum is thick, yellowish, and high in protein, vitamins, minerals, immune cells, and immunoglobulins. Immunoglobulins are antibodies that provide passive immunity to the newborn.
It describes the characteristics of mature milk, not colostrum. Mature milk is thin, whiter, and higher in fat, carbohydrates, lactose, water, vitamins, immunoglobulins, and growth factors
Colostrum protects the infant’s gastrointestinal tract from infections and helps establish normal flora. Normal flora are beneficial bacteria that aid in digestion and immunity.
Colostrum has a laxative effect that helps clear meconium and prevent jaundice. Meconium is the first stool of the newborn, which contains waste products from the fetal life. Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and eyes caused by excess bilirubin, a breakdown product of red blood cells.
Colostrum meets all the nutritional needs of the newborn during the first few days of life. Colostrum is rich in calories and nutrients and provides adequate hydration to the newborn.
The correct answer is choice A, C, D, and E. Here is why:
• Choice A is correct because colostrum is thick, yellowish, and high in protein, vitamins, minerals, immune cells, and immunoglobulins. Immunoglobulins are antibodies that provide passive immunity to the newborn.
• Choice B is wrong because it describes the characteristics of mature milk, not colostrum. Mature milk is thin, whiter, and higher in fat, carbohydrates, lactose, water, vitamins, immunoglobulins, and growth factors.
• Choice C is correct because colostrum protects the infant’s gastrointestinal tract from infections and helps establish normal flora. Normal flora are beneficial bacteria that aid in digestion and immunity.
• Choice D is correct because colostrum has a laxative effect that helps clear meconium and prevent jaundice. Meconium is the first stool of the newborn, which contains waste products from the fetal life. Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and eyes caused by excess bilirubin, a breakdown product of red blood cells.
• Choice E is correct because colostrum meets all the nutritional needs of the newborn during the first few days of life. Colostrum is rich in calories and nutrients and provides adequate hydration to the newborn.