FOREMILK Meaning and
Definition
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Foremilk refers to the initial milk produced by a lactating mammal during a feeding session. It is considered as the milk that is released at the start of breastfeeding or pumping, before the hindmilk. Foremilk is important for nourishing the newborn or infant, providing essential nutrients and hydration.
The composition of foremilk generally tends to be thinner and more watery when compared to the thicker and creamier hindmilk that is released towards the end of a feeding session. This is primarily because foremilk is produced in response to the stimulus of suckling, while hindmilk is released as the result of more intense and prolonged sucking. Foremilk is rich in lactose, proteins, vitamins, and minerals, which help in maintaining the baby's energy levels and aiding growth.
Foremilk serves as a vital source of hydration, as it has a high water content, allowing the infant to stay adequately hydrated during feeding. Additionally, this milk contains lower fat content, making it easier for the baby to digest. The properties of foremilk also contribute to promoting and maintaining healthy bowel movements in infants.
It is crucial to note that an imbalance between foremilk and hindmilk can occur if the breastfeeding sessions are cut short or if the infant is frequently switched between breasts. This imbalance can result in the consumption of predominantly foremilk, which may lead to issues such as gastrointestinal discomfort, gas, and greenish or explosive stools. Therefore, ensuring that the baby receives both foremilk and hindmilk during a feeding is important for their overall health and development.
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A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for FOREMILK
- doremilk
- coremilk
- voremilk
- goremilk
- toremilk
- roremilk
- firemilk
- fkremilk
- flremilk
- fpremilk
- f0remilk
- f9remilk
- foeemilk
- fodemilk
- fofemilk
- fotemilk
- fo5emilk
- fo4emilk
- forwmilk
- foremilki
Etymology of FOREMILK
The word "foremilk" is a combination of the prefix "fore-" and the noun "milk".
The prefix "fore-" comes from Old English and originally meant "before" or "in front of". It is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "fura" meaning "before" or "in front".
The noun "milk" dates back to Old English as well, with roots in the West Germanic word "miluk", which is thought to derive from the Proto-Indo-European root "*h₂melǵ-" meaning "to stroke" or "to milk".
Therefore, the word "foremilk" combines the idea of something that comes before or in front (fore-) with the substance produced by mammals for feeding their young (milk).
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