Collecting colostrum, your baby's first milk explained

Teaching parents to collect colostrum is one of my favourite parts of the job. I deliberately call it collecting rather than harvesting, because it is a calm, gentle thing, not a chore. Colostrum is your baby's first milk, and it is remarkable stuff. Thick, golden and rich in antibodies, it is exactly what your newborn needs in their first days. This guide explains what colostrum is, how to collect it, and how to store it.

What colostrum is

Colostrum is the first milk your body makes, from before your baby is born through the first few days afterwards. It is thick and often golden or creamy in colour, and it is produced in small amounts because that is all your newborn needs. Your baby's tummy is tiny at birth, about the size of a cherry, so a few millilitres at a feed is exactly right.

Colostrum is packed with antibodies and protective factors that help defend your baby against infection, and it helps them pass their first stools, which in turn helps clear jaundice. It is sometimes called liquid gold, and with good reason.

Why some parents collect it before birth

Collecting colostrum by hand in the last few weeks of pregnancy, and storing it, can be helpful when there is a chance your baby may need a little extra in the early days. It can be useful if:

• You have diabetes, including gestational diabetes, as your baby may be more likely to need help keeping their blood sugar steady.
• You are planning a caesarean birth.
• Your baby is expected to need extra support with feeding for any reason.
• You simply want a small store ready for reassurance.

Having your own colostrum ready can mean your baby is given your milk rather than formula if they need topping up, and it can take some pressure off those first feeds.

Always check with your midwife first

Collecting colostrum before birth is not right for everyone, so always get the go-ahead from your midwife before you start. It is usually begun from around thirty six to thirty seven weeks of pregnancy. Your midwife will let you know if it is not advised for you, for example if you are at risk of going into labour early, as the gentle stimulation involved is best avoided in some situations.

How to collect colostrum by hand

Colostrum is collected by hand, not with a pump, as hand expression is gentler and wastes less of these precious drops. In short:

• Wash your hands, and have a clean syringe ready to catch the drops. Your midwife can give you syringes.
• Get comfortable and warm, and try a little skin warmth first, such as after a bath or shower.
• Cup your breast and find the firmer tissue a few centimetres back from the nipple.
• Gently press back towards your chest, then bring your finger and thumb together in a rolling motion, without sliding on the skin.
• Release, and repeat in a rhythm, moving around the breast.
• Catch the drops in the syringe as they appear, then cap it.

Do not worry if only a drop or two comes at first. That is completely normal, and it often increases with practice. Even the smallest amount is worth keeping. The same hand expression skill is useful after birth too, which you can read about in Hand expressing, manual pump or electric pump.

Storing your colostrum

• Label each syringe with the date.
• Keep it in the fridge if you will use it within a few days.
• For longer, seal it in a small bag and freeze it. Frozen colostrum keeps well.
• To bring it into hospital, transport it frozen in a cool bag with ice packs, and hand it to your midwife on arrival.

Your midwife or maternity unit can give you their exact storage and transport advice, so do ask.

How a consultation helps

Hand expression is a skill, and it is far easier once someone has shown you. When we meet, whether before or after your baby is born, I can teach you to collect colostrum comfortably and effectively, get your hand position right, and help you make the most of every drop.