Importance of Antibody During Pregnancy
Maternal Antibodies:
- Shared mother to baby
- IgG antibody protects in the blood
- Lasts for around 6 months in infants after birth
Line Graph of Maternal Antibodies:
Maternal antibodies are passed to the foetus throughout pregnancy either as pre-existing antibodies or as vaccine-induced antibodies which are produced following vaccination. Levels of maternal antibody in the baby increase during the second trimester and are highest around birth, but decrease overtime and typically disappear by six months of age.
Breast Milk Antibodies:
- Shared during breast-feeding
- IgA antibody protects in the mouth, throat and gut
- High levels in milk after birth but gradually decreases
Line Graph of Maternal Antibodies:
Antibody levels in breast milk are highest in the first few days after birth when colostrum is produced. Antibody levels then begin to decline as milk matures into transition milk between days 4-14 and are lowest in mature milk from day 14 onwards.
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