Antenatal Colostrum Harvesting
Guest blog by Imogen Unger IBCLC : Image credit: Varsha Garg
Colostrum Harvesting or Antenatal Hand Expressing is collecting your colostrum before your baby arrives. Colostrum is the first milk your body makes for your baby, it’s packed full of calories, antibodies & growth factors. It acts as a natural laxative and is intentionally in small volumes. Please don’t be disheartened by small volumes, every drop is liquid gold.
Colostrum harvesting prior to birth is an opportunity for you to become familiar with your changing breasts and is great for creating a little stash of your milk before your baby arrives. You can then use the colostrum you have collected antenatally in the early hours after birth if your baby is taking a little longer to attach and breastfeed or for some reason you are separated from your baby.
Even though your body will have started producing colostrum from around 16 weeks pregnant not every one will be able to express colostrum antenatally. PLEASE remember that this is not reflective of what your breast/chestfeeding journey will look like following the arrival of your baby. If you are unable to collect milk prior to your birth, hand expressing is still a really wonderful skill to have learnt. It can help a baby that is struggling to attach, helping them find their way to the breast/chest and if you are feeling fullness or engorgement it can help to soften your breast which will make attaching your baby easier and support your comfort. Practicing prior to your baby arriving helps you familiarises yourself with the skill in a non stressful environment.
Why?
Antenatally expressed colostrum can be used to feed your baby if for any reason breastfeeding is taking a little longer to get going or for some reason you are separated from your baby, avoiding the use of formula.
Some medical conditions can sometimes make establishing breastfeeding a little trickier for both you and your baby. You may be encouraged to collect colostrum antenatally if you have Gestational Diabetes or a history of diabetes, your baby has a cleft lip or palate or a congenital condition.
Some other reasons to consider collecting your colostrum antenatally
If you are having twins or triplets
If you have had breast surgery
When?
You can usually start colostrum harvesting from 36-37 weeks pregnant. Please check with your midwife or the antenatal team supporting you. Express 1-2 times per day
How?
Start with clean hands
Gather the equipment you will need – syringes, caps, small cup.
You could practice using the syringe with one hand prior to starting as this can be a little tricky in the beginning. You may also find it helpful to have your partner help out catching the drops or alternatively collect drops on to a sterile spoon or cup and then syringe them into the syringe at the end
You can purchase the colostrum syringes here*
Find somewhere that you feel relaxed and comfortable. Being relaxed and comfortable will help with your milk flow. Try taking some deep breaths prior to starting or listening to music. Warm moist heat can also help with flow – try a warm wet flannel or expressing after a shower or bath.
Next do some light touch massage for a few minutes all over your breast, including your nipple to stimulate your milk to flow. Remember that this shouldn’t hurt, so try some light strokes or circle motions.
Make a C – Shape with your fingers and thumb
Cup your breast, still in a C Shape with your fingers 2-3 cms back from your nipple
Gently squeeze your thumb and fingers together. Start slowly building up to a rhythmic compress and release, compress and release. (avoid sliding your fingers over the skin)
Remember that we are all different so use this is a starting point. You can move your fingers closer to or further back from your nipple to find the spot that works for you.
You could also try pressing back towards your chest, then compress and release.
You should start to see little beads of colostrum on the end of your nipple. To start with it may just be one drop or it may take a few days of practice.
Continue to compress and release rhythmically and move your hands around your breast to stimulate and remove colostrum from different parts of your breast
Collect the drops – in the beginning a small 1-2 ml syringe can be used to collect your colostrum. You can also use a small cup if this is easier for you.
Continue hand expressing until the milk stops or drips very slowly. Change breasts and repeat the process
You can change breasts multiple times, continuing until the milk slows or stops
Storage
Remember to label your colostrum with your name, hospital number and the date you have expressed
Store your colostrum in the freezer if you are expressing from 36-37 weeks
If you are being induced within 1-2 days you can store your colostrum in the back of the fridge
There is more information on expressed milk storage here.
Some other things to think about
You may find that you have one breast that flows faster or is making more colostrum. This is very common.
You might want to leave yourself a reminder, so you don’t forget to take your colostrum with you – at the front door or on your hospital bag
Make sure you have an insulated bag and freezer brick to transport your colostrum to the hospital (if having your baby in a hospital)
Remember to let the staff know that you have brought in colostrum so it can be stored correctly for you in the hospital
Further resources
https://breastfeeding.support/expressing-colostrum-antenatally/
https://www.laleche.org.uk/antenatal-expression-of-colostrum/
https://player.vimeo.com/video/65196007
https://abm.me.uk/breastfeeding-information/antenatal-expression-colostrum/
https://abm.me.uk/wp-content/uploads/ABM-antenatal-expressing.pdf
https://www.bliss.org.uk/parents/about-your-baby/feeding/expressing/hand-expression
*affiliate links may be used
Imogen Unger is an experienced IBCLC (Lactation Consultant) and Specialist Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse with nearly 20 years of experience supporting families on their feeding journeys. She has always felt strongly about the importance of parents being supported & informed on their journey into parenthood. Imogen is passionate about supporting parents and families to feel confident with the choices they make about feeding their baby, supporting them to find their way, whatever that may look like. She works within the NHS and privately, providing Antenatal & Postnatal Workshops & 1:1 sessions both in person and online.
You can find Imogen via her website or on Instagram @imogenibclc
