World-first research from WA has revealed something both exciting and shocking.

We’ve always known colostrum is liquid gold 💛.

Full of immune and growth factors designed to protect babies in their most vulnerable days. But new research has now shown just how critical those first colostrum feeds are in preventing food allergies.

And yet, despite this evidence, half of all newborns in Western Australia are still given formula in their first 72 hours of life.

What is Colostrum?

Colostrum is the first milk produced in the first 2–3 days after birth. It’s thick, golden, and packed with human growth factors that:

• Line a newborn’s gut

• Mature the epithelial layer (the cells that form the protective barrier)

• Tighten the junctions so the gut can function as a strong gatekeeper

• Deliver immune education, teaching the baby’s system what is safe and what is harmful

*It is also rich in Vitamin A, which is why it is yellow/gold

In those early days, a baby’s gut lining is naturally thin and permeable. Perfectly designed to let colostrum’s compounds through.

Colostrum isn’t just “milk”, it’s an immune blueprint. It is about immunity, not calories.

Colostrum is packed with:

• Living cells that fight infection and build immune defences

• Lactoferrin, a powerful antimicrobial protein

• Secretory IgA, antibodies that coat and protect the gut

• Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs), unique sugars that feed beneficial bacteria and block pathogens

The New Research

A landmark study (Bhasin et al, 2025) analysed feeding data and allergy outcomes.

Here’s what they found:

👉 Babies exclusively fed colostrum in their first 72 hours were 5 times less likely to develop a peanut allergy.

👉 They were 11 times less likely to develop multiple food allergies (like egg or cow’s milk).

👉 Not a single baby who had 9 or more colostrum feeds in the first 72 hours developed a peanut allergy.

Tiny Tummies, Perfectly Matched Milk

So why is colostrum so effective? Because it’s designed for newborns.

• On day 1, a baby’s tummy is about the size of a blueberry (~7 ml)

• By day 3, it about the size of a cherry tomato (~27 ml)

Colostrum is concentrated and bioactive. Babies don’t need large volumes of formula—they need small, frequent feeds of colostrum, perfectly matched to their physiology.

Colostrum is about immunity, not calories.

Colostrum contains approximately 55 calories per 100 ml, which is significantly lower in calories than mature breast milk. But because babies only take in tiny amounts of colostrum, but each drop is packed with living cells, antibodies, lactoferrin, HMOs, and growth factors.

👉 The goal of colostrum feeding is not to fill babies up with calories or to make them put on weight. It’s to prime their immune system, protect their gut, and lay the foundations for health and breastfeeding success.

Formula can’t provide the immune blueprint that colostrum does, and can over-stretch tiny tummies

But What About Hypoglycaemia and Jaundice?

Parents are often told that formula is “necessary” for things like low blood sugar or jaundice. But the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) protocols are very clear:

• Hypoglycaemia (Protocol #1): At-risk babies should be stabilised first with colostrum (direct feeds, hand-expressed, or donor milk if available). Formula is a last resort.

• Jaundice (Protocol #22): The first line of treatment is more breastfeeding. Supplementation, if required, should be with expressed breastmilk. Formula is only for babies who are clinically unwell or when no other options exist.

In other words, there are situations where supplementation is medically needed — but those situations are the exception, not the rule.

What Shocked Me Most

Despite decades of research and best-practice guidelines, the press release for this study revealed:

“Currently, one in two newborns in Western Australia receive formula top-ups in their first 72 hours of life, missing out on the protective benefits of colostrum.”  (The Kids Research Institute Australia, press release 22nd Sept 2025)

Formula supplementation is meant to be medical-need only. So how is it that half of our babies are still missing out on the full protective effects of colostrum?

Isn’t This Just About Choice?

Some might say the high rate of formula use in those first 72 hours is because not all women choose to breastfeed, and of course, that is every woman’s right. Feeding choices are deeply personal, and families deserve respect and support, whatever path they take.

But we also know from research that the majority of women in Australia intend to breastfeed. In a recent Australian study (Reynolds et al., 2023), 94% of women reported an intention to breastfeed.

So when half of our babies are still being given formula in the very first days of life, this isn’t simply about parental choice. It points to systemic issues:

• Gaps in hospital practices and policies

• Inconsistent staff education

• Pressure on busy wards to “top up” with formula rather than support frequent colostrum feeding

This is why education, advocacy, and truly baby-friendly practices matter—so that when women intend to breastfeed, they and their babies get the best possible start.

But It’s Not About Antenatal Expressing

After hearing research like this, some parents (and even hospitals) might assume the answer is to start antenatal colostrum expressing. You’ve probably noticed Instagram filling up with posts—and even “kits” being sold—encouraging women to collect colostrum before their baby is even born.

But here’s the truth:

• This study did not specify antenatal vs postnatal colostrum.

• Fresh is best — colostrum straight from mother to baby after birth.

• The real issue is babies being routinely given formula instead of colostrum in hospital.

I’ll be honest — the idealist in me says don’t do it. Fresh colostrum is always best, and I worry that antenatal expressing can make it too easy for staff to separate mums and babies at a time when they should be together, skin-to-skin, learning to breastfeed.

But the realist in me also says do it. The window for colostrum is so short, and it is so important that babies receive their full quota. And the reality is women aren’t getting the support they need, and many are ending up with interventions we know make breastfeeding in the first days harder for mum and baby.

No wonder antenatally expressed colostrum is often used—not because it’s ideal, but because the system makes it too hard for breastfeeding to get off to the start nature intended. If the choice is between frozen antenatally expressed colostrum or formula, then frozen colostrum is without doubt the better option.

I’ve written a whole blog breaking down the evidence on antenatal expressing, including the 2017 DAME Trial, which only studied diabetic women with otherwise low-risk pregnancies. While the trial showed no harm in this group, the benefits are often overstated — and there are potential risks and downsides.

👉 [Read my full thoughts on antenatal expressing here]

Why This Matters for Parents

This isn’t just about the first days in hospital — it’s about lifelong protection.

Colostrum:

• Shapes the gut microbiome

• Builds immune resilience

• Reduces risk of food allergies

• Supports optimal breastfeeding and milk supply

When babies are given formula unnecessarily, they’re missing the immune blueprint colostrum provides.

The Way Forward

This research should be a wake-up call:

• Hospitals must align with Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) standards.

• Formula should only be used when there are clear medical reasons.

• Parents need education and support to confidently protect those early feeds.

✨ This is why evidence-based prenatal breastfeeding education is so important.

When parents understand:

• How tiny their baby’s tummy is

• How colostrum works to protect the gut and immune system

• What the ABM protocols say about supplementation

• And how to advocate for their baby in hospital

…they are far more confident to say no to unnecessary formula in those critical first hours, and to make sure their baby receives only colostrum unless there is a genuine medical reason.

This is exactly why I cover breastfeeding and the first 72 hours in my workshops and prenatal breastfeeding education sessions — so parents walk into birth ready to protect those feeds and give their baby the best start.

I also have an online course if you don’t live in Perth

Mastering Breastfeeding: Your Essential Guide to a Confident Start

Parents deserve better support.

Babies deserve colostrum. 💛

Frequently Asked Questions About Colostrum

📖 Reference:

Reynolds, R., Kingsland, M., Daly, J. et al. Breastfeeding practices and associations with pregnancy, maternal and infant characteristics in Australia: a cross-sectional study. Int Breastfeed J 18, 8 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-023-00545-5