Colostrum for a surrogacy baby is much needed irrespective of the nature of the birth mother.
Gestational Surrogacy is a complex procedure. Intended Parents must take care of various legal formalities and other emotional needs until the birth of the surrogacy child. But what happens when the child is born? Colostrum for a surrogacy baby is an important factor to consider irrespective of the nature of the birth mother.
In most cases, the intended mother is able to breastfeed the child even though she is not pregnant with the child. The decision to breastfeed your child will totally depend on your preference whether you want to do it by yourself or pump your surrogate mother for it or you don’t want to breastfeed your child.
Whether you’re thinking about breastfeeding your baby or you’re interested in getting your breastmilk from your gestational carrier, there’s one significant thing you should know first about colostrum and how it can change your decision of breastfeeding.
What is Colostrum?
Colostrum is the unique first breast milk that is created just after birth in any lady. t’s a sticky, yellow liquid that has everything that a newborn baby is needed.
Colostrum is an extremely dense initial breast milk that includes immune-boosting characteristics. It is filled with protein, salts, antibodies, and protective characteristics that are all useful to your child. Colostrum is greater in protein relative to normal breast milk, but lower in sugar, fat, and calories.
If you’re nursing your child, your newborn feeds will be colostrum in the first few days after birth and before your regular breast milk begins to flow. All infants may benefit from colostrum, but studies have shown that colostrum benefits preterm children immensely.
Benefits of Colostrum
Breastfeeding moms may want to think of colostrum as the first meal of their child — one that provides health advantages such as:
- Helping to protect your child from damaging germs by covering his intestines and helping to protect his immune system from germs.
- Providing some protection from inflammation and killing possibly damaging microorganisms
- Having laxative characteristics that can assist move meconium (your little baby’s first stool) along, which can assist in lower jaundice chances
- Help avoid low blood sugar levels if your child is born full-term
- Offering a dietary boost to a prematurely born child as can provide your preemie with some extra nutrition.
Colostrum is dense and sticky and may appear in colors orange, yellow, transparent, or white. It is typically yellowish because it contains beta-carotene (the same thing that makes carrots yellow), but if your colostrum is thinner and waterier, don’t worry— it’s normal for every mother to be different.
When does Breast Milk come into the picture?
The breasts of an expectant mom may be prepared to generate colostrum in the second trimester as soon as 16 weeks of pregnancy or later. So, don’t be amazed if you see signs of colostrum leaking long before the baby’s birth.
Colostrum leakage does not necessarily imply near labor. Although it may seem a little strange, leaking a little bit of breast milk during pregnancy is actually quite normal.
In contrast, some moms-to-be do not notice any signs of colostrum leaking during pregnancy, but this does not imply that the manufacturing of colostrum does not occur. Your breasts get prepared for breastfeeding behind the scenes— one more way your body gets prepared for motherhood.
You may want to purchase some disposable or reusable breast pads that line your bra if you are leaking colostrum. These assist the liquid to absorb and safeguard your clothes.
How long is the last Colostrum?
Before this early milk transition into regular breast milk, your body will typically generate colostrum for several days after your baby’s birth.
Your breasts will start to grow in size and feel firmer after the original two to five days of colostrum manufacturing. This shows that your supply of milk is rising and has begun transitioning from colostrum to periodic breast milk— a process that takes place over a few weeks.
How much Colostrum does a newborn baby need?
New moms can generate colostrum everywhere between 10 and 100 milliliters per day. However, it’s typically about 30 milliliters or about one ounce a day, which is about the quantity your child requires. But don’t care if you make less than that amount— any quantity is great for your child. As your breasts move to produce more milk than colostrum, the stomach of your baby will also grow to accept more milk.
Should the surrogate pump colostrum for the baby?
If your child is born via the surrogacy process, then it is not easy to have colostrum for your baby. Even if you plan lactation to feed your child, colostrum (which is linked to human placental lactogen manufacturing) will not be produced. Only the birthing mother ( in this case surrogate mother) can produce it. If you want your child to receive colostrum advantages, after birth, you will need your surrogate to pump.
Over the years, I have seen many would-be intended parents discussing his option well in advance. Each parent has a personal preference but few of them are more persistent to have breast milk from the gestational carrier.
If you plan to breastfeed or even start with colostrum feed to baby, you need to discuss this topic with your surrogacy agency case manager.
There are many surrogate mothers who are ready to feed if paid for their time and effort. But there are few who might say no. So, let your preference to your surrogacy professional can help them find a surrogate mother who shares the same outlook about breastfeeding.
You can discuss these questions earlier just after signing the surrogacy agreement. It is essential to plan such as how long she will be pumping, how the milk will be supplied to your child, and whether she will receive any additional compensation. Pumping breastmilk is a large commitment, so you need to actively involve your surrogate in this choice.
If you decide to have your gestational surrogate give your child colostrum after birth, as part of your general hospital plan, you will need to speak to your surrogate about the details of this experience.
Do you need to pump your surrogate straight after delivery? Are you going to have your kid breastfeed her instead? This discussion can also be mediated by your surrogacy expert
You are in charge of the breastmilk preference for your baby
You always have to decide what the best medical choices are for your child when you are an intended parent. If you’re going to cause lactation and feed it on your own, fantastic! If instead, you choose to feed bottles, that’s all right, too! It depends on what your doctor recommends and what works best for your own timetable.
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Is the surrogate genetically related to the baby?
Conclusion
During the surrogacy process, if you breastfeed your child or not with a gestational surrogate is entirely your decision. The same goes even if you have traditional surrogacy. But do remember the benefits of breastmilk while making any decision.
If you’d like to learn more about IVF, Egg Donation, or surrogacy services globally, check out the rest of our website at IVF Conceptions.
I am Neelam Chhagani, a chief Surrogacy Consultant, representing IVF Conceptions, with more than 10 years of experience in international surrogacy. It will be my great pleasure to assist you. With vast experience and deep subject knowledge, I guide and support intended parents, understanding the surrogacy process in terms of process, costs, and legalities country-wise and then manage their journey with one of our programs/partners worldwide. So, basically, saving your a ton of research time and money and thus, channelizing you toward the right direction.
