Colostrum

A sticky white or yellow fluid secreted by the breasts during the second half of pregnancy and for a few days after birth before the breast milk comes in.

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A thin white opalescent fluid, the first milk secreted at the termination of pregnancy; it differs from the milk secreted later by containing more lactalbumin and lactoprotein; c. is also rich in antibodies which confer passive immunity to the newborn. SYN: foremilk. [L.]

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co·los·trum kə-'läs-trəm n milk secreted for a few days after parturition and characterized by high protein and antibody content

co·los·tral -trəl adj

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n.

the first secretion from the breast, occurring shortly after, or sometimes before, birth prior to the secretion of true milk. It is a relatively clear fluid containing serum, white blood cells, and protective antibodies.

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co·los·trum (kə-losґtrəm) [L.] the thin, yellow, milky fluid secreted by the mammary gland before or after parturition. It contains up to 20 per cent protein, predominant among which are immunoglobulins, representing the antibodies found in maternal blood. It contains more minerals and less fat and carbohydrate than does milk. It also contains many colostrum corpuscles and usually will coagulate on boiling due to a large amount of lactalbumin. colostral adj