Final answer:
Colostrum is the first milk a baby receives postpartum, providing essential immunoglobulins. It is succeeded by transitional and mature milk, with mature milk comprising of watery foremilk and creamy hindmilk to quench thirst and satisfy hunger, respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first milk that is very important for the baby and is secreted during the first 48-72 hours postpartum is called colostrum. This milk is particularly beneficial as it is rich with immunoglobulins, providing the newborn with critical gastrointestinal and systemic immunity. Colostrum is followed by transitional milk and then mature breast milk, which adapts over time to meet the infant's changing nutritional needs.
Mature milk consists of foremilk at the beginning of a feeding, which is watery, translucent, and quenches the infant's thirst due to its richness in lactose and protein. Towards the end of a feeding, the baby receives hindmilk, which is opaque, creamy, and high in fat, satisfying the infant's appetite. The composition of breast milk is ideally suited to support the development and growth of the baby and includes important nutrients and immunoglobulins that protect the child from infections.