US Medical Term · maternity
Colostrum
Calostro
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Colostrum |
| Spanish (Español) | Calostro |
| Chinese (中文) | 初乳 |
| Korean (한국어) | 초유 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Sữa non |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Colostrum |
| Portuguese (Português) | Colostro |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | น้ำนมเหลือง |
| Japanese (日本語) | 初乳 |
What it means
Colostrum is the first milk produced by the breasts, starting in late pregnancy and available for the first several days after birth before mature milk comes in. It is thick, yellowish, and produced in very small amounts — just a few teaspoons per day — but it is extremely rich in antibodies, white blood cells, proteins, and growth factors that protect your newborn from infection and help their gut mature. Often called "liquid gold," colostrum is the perfect first food for your baby and provides passive immunity against diseases. Frequent nursing in the first days stimulates more milk production and delivers maximum colostrum to your baby.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
I'm only making a tiny amount of milk right now — is that enough for my newborn?
Solo estoy produciendo una cantidad muy pequeña de leche ahora — ¿es suficiente para mi recién nacido?
My colostrum looks yellow — is that normal?
Mi calostro se ve amarillo — ¿es eso normal?
When will my regular breast milk come in after the colostrum phase?
¿Cuándo llegará mi leche materna regular después de la fase del calostro?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026