4 tips for collecting colostrum while you’re pregnant

Collecting colostrum while pregnant can help you get ahead after baby is born. Read more on how to safely collect colostrum while pregnant.
Leaky boobs during pregnancy? Learn how to store that colostrum!
COLLECTING COLOSTRUM WHILE PREGNANT
Did you know that your body starts producing breastmilk when you are pregnant at around 16-20 weeks? How crazy is that?
If you’re a second time mom and/or you’ve breastfeed before, you might even notice this earlier. Some moms experience leaking at the breast this early too!
WHAT IS (ANTENATAL) COLOSTRUM?
The leaking, sticky liquid is actually colostrum, or early breast milk. Colostrum is different that mature breast milk – it has an orange or yellow appearance, is sticky, and is PACKED with nutrients and antibodies to protect your little one in the early days postpartum. Some moms will produce colostrum before the baby is even born, and you can start collecting and saving it for the hospital!
WHY WOULD I COLLECT COLOSTRUM WHILE I AM PREGNANT?
You don’t HAVE to! I didn’t leak or collect colostrum with my other pregnancies. Leaking colostrum or the ability to hand express colostrum IS NOT a good indicator of supply postpartum, so don’t worry if you’re not seeing any or don’t want to collect.
Reasons you could collect include:
History of low breastmilk supply
- If you’ve had low supply in the past, this is a great way to stock up on milk before baby is born. You can bring it to the hospital to supplement breastfeeding or formula with.
If you’ve had previous breast surgeries
- Breast implants and reductions can affect your milk supply. If you’ve had either of these procedures, collecting colostrum can help you store and use when baby is born.
If you have gestational diabetes/history of a large baby
- Babies of mothers who have GD can have low blood sugar immediately postpartum. You can use harvested colostrum to increase blood sugar in addition to breastfeeding or formula.
If your baby has been diagnosed with a cleft lip or palate
- Cleft lip and palate make it difficult for baby to latch, so it’s a great idea to have some syringes of colostrum on hand.
If you’re having a planned c-section
- Blood loss and surgery itself can inhibit milk production in the first few days postpartum. Having some colostrum on hand is a good idea!
If you’re leaking a ton!
- Get ahead on milk storage!
WHEN SHOULD I START COLLECTING?
If you are actively leaking, you can collect at anytime. Use Lacticups to collect and aspirate into a sterile syringe (1mL or 5 mL syringe).
If you are NOT actively leaking, you’ll need the approval of your provider to start hand expressing after 36 weeks gestation. Hand expression could cause contractions – so waiting until baby is considered term is a must.
HOW DO I COLLECT COLOSTRUM ANTENATALLY?
If you are leaking colostrum:
- Take a hot, steamy shower.
- Massage your breasts.
- Place a Lacticup on your breast while wearing a bra and collect without any effort!
- Suck the colostrum up in a sterile 1mL or 5mL syringe.
- Place a label with the date of the first day of collection on the syringe.
- Freeze within 5 days of the first collection.
- Store in a ziplock baggie in the freezer.
If you are 36+ weeks and have the approval of your provider:
- Take a hot shower.
- Massage your breasts.
- Hand express into a cup, bottle, or medicine cup.
- Try this Haakaa Colostrum Collector too!
- Suck the colostrum up into a sterile 1mL or 5mL syringe
- Try this Haakaa Colostrum Collector too!
- Place a label with the date of the first day of collection on the syringe.
- Freeze within 4 days of the first collection.
- Store in a ziplock baggie in the freezer.
**HAND EXPRESSION ONLY. Do not use a breast pump! The stronger suction can induce contractions. Plus, it’s way more effective to hand express sticky colostrum.
Colostrum has the same storage limits as breastmilk. You can add multiple sessions to the same bottle/syringe for up to 4 days from the first collection, then freeze.
You can express up to 3 times in a day (but again, you don’t have to!)
Tip: You can also try this new Haakaa Colostrum Collector to collect your colostrum!
HOW DO I HAND EXPRESS?
Watch this video here. I like to hand express into a small bottle with a breast pump flange on top of the bottle to catch everything!
I’M GETTING LIKE…NOTHING!
That’s normal! Keep it up and you’ll start producing more.
IT ALL DIFFERENT COLORS. IS THAT OK?
YES! This is normal.
SO WHAT DO I DO WITH IT?
Freeze and bring the colostrum to the hospital when you go into labor! The nurses will label and store it for you, and will warm/thaw it for you when you are ready to use.
QUESTIONS?
Here’s a great resource on antenatal colostrum harvesting.
Check out my colostrum IG guide and Reels on Instagram.
Have more questions? Schedule a text or video chat consult with Kate, Lauren or Natalie (NICU RNs) and they can help answer any questions that you have!
Other helpful blog posts:
- High Lipase and how to battle it
- Newborn acne – when should I worry?
- Hospital bag essentials
- Tips for getting through the third trimester of pregnancy
- First time baby registry
- Diaper bag essentials
- Postpartum essentials for mom
- Postpartum essentials for baby
- 13 things no one tells you about postpartum
- Kate’s favorite sleep products for 0-6 months
**This post is educational and not meant to take the place of your provider. Bumblebaby makes a small commission on some of the items listed above.