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Your Pregnancy: Week 25 for Mom
By: ePregnancy
 And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire, the ring of fire…
Oh, the burn, that horrid, uncomfortable, burning caused by every pregnant woman’s nightmare: hemorrhoids. It’s unfortunate but true -- the enceintes are more susceptible to those nasty little bumps, and for lots of different reasons. Constipation, an increase in hormones and the constant pressure of your swollen uterus on everything below it are all hemorrhoid triggers. If constipation is the cause, try upping your water intake before resorting to laxatives, which should only be prescribed by your doctor. You can also try ice packs, sitz baths and witch hazel compresses to achieve some relief. In just over 10 weeks you are going to give birth to a very healthy baby, so hang in there!
Cause for Celebration
If your baby was born today,
she would likely survive!
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That healthy baby is also going to be very hungry, so this would be an excellent time to enroll in breastfeeding classes, or at least learn as much as you can about the process. You might want to research lactation consultants or make a list of questions to ask your midwife or doctor. And don’t be surprised to see yourself lactating already -- your body is hard at work producing that liquid gold known as colostrum, so some of it may make a surprise appearance from time to time.
Due Dialect: Colostrum
While you are still pregnant, your breasts will start to produce colostrum: a special milk that is super high in carbs, proteins and antibodies. This milk is usually yellowish or orangey in color, and is thick and sticky. Sounds appetizing, doesn’t it? Well, it is -- to your newborn. So what does it do for the little one?
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It’s nutrient-dense, but it’s also highly digestible, making it the perfect first food for your baby.
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This fluid has a laxative effect on babies -- and we all know what that means! It’s important for new babies to rid themselves of excess bilrubin, and the laxative effects of colostrum are perfect for that. Less bilrubin means your baby is less likely to develop jaundice.
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It’s the perfect immunobooster. Colostrum provides large amounts of living cells and the concentration of leukocytes is much higher than in the milk you produce later. These leukocytes protect baby from various microorganisms, bacteria and viruses.
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Colostrum also contains secretory immunoglobin -- antibodies that protect baby’s mucous membranes in the throat, lungs and intestines.
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It helps establish beneficial bacteria in baby’s digestive tract, which will keep your baby from having to shop at the health food store for probiotics for years to come.
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Your colostrum also coats the baby’s digestive tract with a barrier to prevent foreign substances from penetrating.
You will likely produce this foremilk for three or four days, after which you will start producing mature milk. At this point, your milk production will increase in volume and will change to a whiter, more opaque color. In the days leading up to this change, it’s important to breastfeed 8-12 times in each 24-hour period, and even more if you can! This gives your baby the chance to absorb as much of that liquid gold as possible, and stimulates the production of mature milk.
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