Harvesting Colostrum During Pregnancy

Harvesting colostrum while pregnant is a practice that has been gaining traction among expectant mothers in recent years. Colostrum is the nutrient-rich, yellowish fluid produced by the breasts in the first few days after giving birth. It is often referred to as “liquid gold” due to its high concentration of antibodies and essential nutrients that help to boost a newborn’s immune system and provide them with vital nourishment.

Why harvest colostrum?

Many mothers choose to collect and store colostrum during pregnancy for a variety of reasons. Some women may have concerns about their ability to produce enough milk after giving birth, while others may be planning to return to work shortly after having their baby and want to ensure that their newborn has an adequate supply of colostrum in their absence. Additionally, some mothers may have medical conditions that make breastfeeding challenging and want to have colostrum on hand as a backup.

It can also be beneficial to have colostrum on hand if you are expecting multiples, have diabetes, know the baby will be born with certain health conditions like down-syndrome or have a cleft pallet, or if you are concerned about breastfeeding.

When can I start harvesting my colostrum?

It is very important to wait until you are at least 37 weeks pregnant and to have your pregnancy provider’s approval. Expressing colostrum may stimulate contractions and potentially trigger preterm labor in some women.

How do I harvest colostrum?

Before you begin harvesting colostrum, you might want to practice hand expressing. It can be helpful to practice in the bath or shower while you get used to the technique. Colostrum is produced in very small quantities, so using a pump doesn’t work well for collection.

Once you’re ready to harvest, here are the steps to follow:

1. Gather a clean, sterile container. Feeding syringes are often a good choice if you can get help collecting the colostrum (it’s often hard to hold the syringe while hand expressing).
2. Wash your hands, then apply a warm compress to your breast or chest. Taking a warm shower or bath ahead of time can work, too.
3. Gently massage your breast tissue for a minute or two, stroking from the top and sides toward your nipple to encourage the letdown reflex.
4. Then, hold your breast tissue between your thumb and the rest of your fingers in a C-shape. Your fingers should be an inch or two beneath your nipple and your thumb the same distance above. 
5. Gently press all your fingers toward your chest wall, then squeeze your thumb and fingers together. (Don’t squeeze so hard it hurts) Release and repeat this step until you see colostrum come out of your nipple. You can rotate your fingers in a circle around your areola to stimulate a larger area of your mammary tissue. 
6. Collect the colostrum with your container without stopping the expression. 
7. Don’t expect large quantities. It’s common to get only a few drops at a time. Remember it’s called “liquid gold” because every drop is full of healthy nutrients and antibodies! 
8. Once the flow stops, switch to the other side.

In general, it’s a good idea to express twice a day, morning and night.

How to store your colostrum.

Colostrum should be frozen until needed. To avoid waste, store in amounts of 1 to 2 millimeters. 

To freeze it, place the syringe into a sterile zip-top bag, label it with the date you expressed, and place it in the freezer. You can store frozen colostrum for up to 6 months in the freezer, but once you thaw it, it needs to stay chilled and be used within 24 hours. 

If you are expressing colostrum after your little one has arrived, colostrum will follow the same storage guidelines as breast milk. Breast milk can be stored at room temperature for up to four hours. It can remain in a refrigerator for up to four days. You can store pumped or hand expressed breast milk in the freezer ideally for up to six months, but up to 12 months is acceptable. If your baby does not finish the stored milk in one feeding, it should be used within 2 hours.

Harvesting colostrum is a great way to prepare and build confidence for breastfeeding and to ensure your little one will have access to consuming the best nutrition for them at birth. 

It is an honor to support you on this journey. Please do not hesitate to call us with questions about the information we are providing.