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Hand expression of colostrum means you have some nutrient-rich milk ready to give to your baby when they're born. It's a great step for anyone who is pregnant and can help you feel more prepared for breastfeeding.
Colostrum is the first breast milk your body makes in the later stages of pregnancy. It's thick and sticky in consistency, and usually yellow, clear, or milky-coloured. It's high in calories, full of antibodies and packed with stem cells.
Collecting colostrum is a great thing for any pregnant person to do, but it's particularly recommended if you:
It can also help if your baby's likely to experience issues with their blood sugar levels or may struggle to feed after birth because they:
You may be told to avoid collecting your colostrum if you:
You can collect colostrum by hand when you're pregnant. You should only use your hands for expressing during pregnancy. It's recommended that you don't use a breast pump to express breast milk until after your baby has been born.
Before you begin to hand express and collect colostrum, be sure to speak to your midwife or a healthcare professional first. They can help make sure it's right for you and your baby and can answer any questions you have.
Over time, you can increase the amount of time you spend expressing until you're spending between five to 10 minutes a time gently expressing, up to five times a day. You can then express as regularly as needed in the first few days after your baby arrives.
Once collected, your colostrum syringes can be dated, labelled, and stored in your freezer, ready to give to your baby once they arrive.
You can store your expressed colostrum syringes at the back of the fridge between 2°C and 4°C for up to 24 hours before you freeze it. It will last for up to 24 hours if kept in a cool bag with ice packs - when you're transporting to hospital, for example.
When you label your syringes, be sure to include:
To bring your expressed colostrum into the hospital when you have your baby, you'll need:
When you're going to the hospital to give birth, you can place some of your frozen colostrum syringes in a re-sealable bag and put it inside a cool bag between a bag of crushed ice or some ice blocks.
Tell your midwife that you have colostrum with you when you arrive at the hospital. They will label it and store it in the fridge or freezer at the hospital for you.
Some newborn babies struggle to breastfeed at first, and others are unable to maintain their blood sugar levels. In these situations, your expressed colostrum is the perfect first food for your baby.
Before you feed your baby, the syringe needs to be brought to room temperature. To do this, you can place the bag with the syringe fully into warm water. Your midwife will demonstrate how to use a small cup or syringe to feed it to your baby.
Having a small feed with colostrum helps give your newborn a boost in energy and blood sugar levels. It can also help to encourage them to breastfeed.
Expressing by hand is the simplest and safest way to collect colostrum.
How much colostrum you collect in an expressing session can vary from just a few drops to a teaspoon full. Don't compare yourself to others and remember that every drop counts!
It's important to note that colostrum harvesting triggers a rise in oxytocin (the hormone that produces contractions in labour). On rare occasions, it can also stimulate Braxton Hicks contractions. Don't worry though, it's very unlikely that collecting your colostrum will trigger labour.
If you experience mild labour contractions or cramps that feel like period pain, it's recommended that you stop collecting colostrum. Take some time to rest before trying again. If contractions continue while you're collecting colostrum, you should seek medical advice and wait until you're closer to your due date before you start again.
Colostrum is highly concentrated and produced in small amounts. Even just a small portion of your colostrum will be beneficial nutritionally for your baby, as their stomach is only the size of a marble when they're born. It supports your baby's immune system and development and can help you establish a good breastfeeding routine from birth and beyond.
It's possible to collect colostrum by hand from 36 weeks of pregnancy and you can express it up to three times daily. If you're expecting twins, you can start colostrum collection from 32 weeks of pregnancy.
Follow these simple steps to collect colostrum with a syringe:
