Colostrum harvesting is a concept many are unfamiliar with, but many mothers must know how to collect colostrum. With the new neonatal technology, we now have to have insight into possible conditions that your babies may be facing, even before birth.
Predisposition to premature birth, a genetic tendency for low birth weight, and other complex issues can separate the mother from the baby in the initial days of birth, so having a supply of harvested colostrum is hugely beneficial to your newborn.
We’ll discuss the benefits of harvesting your colostrum ahead of time and why sometimes this is not possible or appropriate.
What is Colostrum Harvesting and Antenatal Colostrum Expression?
Colostrum is the first milk that comes from a mother’s breasts. It is very concentrated and sometimes comes out only a few drops at a time. Colostrum is a superfood when your baby is born! It contains all the nutrients (it’s high in protein, fat, and energy components) and antibodies your baby needs to build their immune system. It also helps their gastrointestinal system to develop, improving digestion (it’s very easy to digest) and passing that first sticky, black stool called meconium.
Colostrum production begins at different times for each mother, but sometimes as early as the second trimester, at around 16 weeks. Some moms may never see this production until their baby is born, but others may see leaking (yellow staining in their bra) at any time during mid-to-late pregnancy.
Colostrum harvesting is the process of collecting and freezing colostrum in the last few weeks of your pregnancy through the first few days after your baby’s birth. Antenatal colostrum expression simply means you are doing it before your baby is born.
There are many reasons why harvesting colostrum antenatally is beneficial to you and your baby. We will discuss these reasons further.
Why Collect Colostrum Before Birth?
There are various reasons why it is beneficial to collect colostrum and store this first milk before your baby arrives. Expressing and storing colostrum can only be a positive for your baby. These are some of those reasons:
- Your baby is at risk of having feeding problems due to congenital conditions, e.g., Down syndrome or cardiac complications.
- Your baby has a cleft lip or palate seen in utero and may have trouble nursing.
- Your baby may need special care after birth and be separated from you for a while.
- Your baby may need extra feeds if they are not satisfied after feeding.
- Management of feedings if you have diabetes. This can increase the risk of your baby having low blood sugar levels.
- If your milk supply is low.
- If your body mass index (BMI) is above 30.
- If you have high blood pressure and are taking beta blockers
- If you have thyroid issues
- If your labour is being induced
- If you have thyroid issues
- If you are expecting multiples: twins, triplets, quadruplets, etc.!
- Mothers will likely continue breastfeeding if they have already spent time and patience storing breast milk.
Why Some Moms Shouldn’t Express Colostrum During Pregnancy
Even if you have an idea to harvest colostrum before your infant’s birth, your healthcare provider may discourage this for some moms. Do not try to express milk from your breasts if:
- You’re at risk of pre-term labour.
- You’ve been diagnosed with having placenta praevia.
- You cannot hygienically collect and/or store your colostrum safely.
- You’ve had bleeding during your pregnancy.
- Your physician or midwife advised you not to.
Massaging or trying to use hand expression or a breast pump can trigger premature labor, although it is doubtful.
When Should I Start Collecting Colostrum?
Discuss this question with your obstetrician or midwife. If you’ve decided to harvest colostrum, they can arrange to get you the necessary supplies.
You may start to hand-express colostrum at 36 weeks and two to three times daily, but it is never too late. It is recommended that you do not pump colostrum before giving birth so as not to trigger early labour possibly.
How to Express and Collect Colostrum
Antenatal expression of colostrum should be done by hand expression only. Because colostrum is so thick and produced in such small amounts, it will most likely stick to the pump parts and be uncomfortable if you try to pump it.
Tools for Colostrum Harvesting
Your obstetrician or midwife should give you tools for hand expressing and collecting small quantities of colostrum that you produce for your baby. You may only need two tools - your hand and a syringe or colostrum collector. Your hand for breast massage and expression, and a syringe or collector for sucking up the liquid gold.
Some moms collect the drips of colostrum directly from their nipples. Others collect the drips into a container, such as a medicine cup or a Silverette. A Silverette is like a metal breast cup. The containers must be sterile.
Step-By-Step Guide to Hand Expressing Colostrum
Preparation:
- Collect supplies and prepare them.
- Pick a place to sit quietly and relax.
- Wash your hands and breasts.
- Focus on what you are doing. Consider the importance of collecting colostrum for your infant. Think of your baby, look at ultrasound pictures, or sing a lullaby to get into the correct mindset for a more successful session.
Free Photo from Unsplash
Hand Expressing Colostrum
1. Readying Your Breasts
Before you begin the actual collection process, you need to stimulate the nerves and milk ducts in your breasts. This is not a deep massage. It is a gentle breast massage, a light touch that starts from the chest wall and goes down to the nipple. You may even want to use your fist and gently roll slightly towards the nipple. A warm compress held to your breast may help the flow, or even doing the expression while sitting in a warm bath can be stimulating.
Do one breast, express your colostrum, and move on to the next.
2. Positioning Your Hands
To begin expressing, cup your breast in a C-shape with your thumb two to three finger widths back from the nipple and your fingers below the nipple. You will work around the breast, dividing your efforts into four quadrants.
You can gently squeeze down slightly on your breast tissue, but not deeply. There should be no pain. Continue squeezing down in a repeating pattern.
Another method is compressing backward, towards the wall of your chest, and then, using your thumb and fingers, squeeze your breast down and release. Again, you will continue to do this in a repetitive pattern - push back towards the chest wall, squeeze down, release your breast, and repeat.
3. Colostrum Harvesting
Remember, colostrum may come out only a drop at a time, especially when you first begin the process. Hold the collector or the syringe next to the drop and apply negative pressure to suction it into the syringe chamber as the drop forms. You can use the same syringe for that day’s collection and keep it in the refrigerator between expressing sessions.
If the flow stops, reposition your hand by moving your fingers and thumb around on another breast quadrant. Rotate around the breast until you feel no more colostrum will be expressed.
Then, move on to the second breast and repeat the process. Try to express from each breast twice for each session.
The Momcozy Colostrum Collector comes in a ready-to-use package with a 5ml scientific capacity design. Its cylinder collects breast milk efficiently, it’s easy to clean with a clean brush, and is reusable and BPA-free. It replaces the disposable syringe for easy collection using a squeeze technique.
If you feel any contractions at any time during the colostrum harvesting process, stop expressing. Stimulation of your breasts can release oxytocin and may start contractions. Most likely, they are Braxton Hicks contractions that will subside in a short time. If they do, you can start again slowly.
What Do I Do with the Collected Colostrum?
How to Store What You’ve Expressed
Begin each day with a new syringe or colostrum collector to collect your colostrum. Refrigerate it between sessions.
After you have collected colostrum for an entire day, label the syringe with the date and time of the collection. Then, place it in a resealable bag in your freezer. You can continue this daily routine and put the syringes in one bag.
Taking Your Colostrum to the Hospital
If you are scheduled to have a cesarean delivery, do not freeze the colostrum you collect the last two to three days before going to the hospital. Keep it in the fridge. You must use frozen colostrum within 12 hours of thawing in the refrigerator. Refrigerated colostrum that has never been frozen can be kept for up to five days.
If you start labour spontaneously, you may want to leave your colostrum in your home fridge until after birth if your infant needs it. If they nurse without complications, you may want to hang on to the colostrum you’ve taken the time to express and store for later on in your baby’s life.
If you are still harvesting when you arrive at the hospital, or if your child cannot nurse or take your stored colostrum, have your partner or other support person take the colostrum home to be stored in your freezer. This way, your harvested colostrum is safe and secure. If your baby needs it later, it can be returned to the hospital in a cooler or insulated bag. You’ve worked hard to produce the best nutrition to feed your baby, and you don’t want it to go unused or spoil.
Pumping More Breast Milk After Birth
You’ve done all you can to provide the best for your infant, even before birth. Your breasts are used to expressing colostrum and can now express more for the first few days and then transitional milk afterward. Finally, your mature milk comes in, and your child will receive all the nutrition they need with each feeding.
Now, you can consider whether to store your milk. It is highly recommended that you have a supply of breast milk for those times when you may have to be separated from your child, and someone else can provide your human milk from a bottle.
Breast pumping with an electric pump is highly efficient and allows you to feed your child the benefits of your breast milk even when you can’t be there.
This is the Momcozy Mobile Flow™ Hands-Free Breast Pump | M9. It’s a hands-free breast pump that allows you to pump while multitasking. Its mobile app lets you control your pump settings, track your milk volume, and get personal alerts that keep you on schedule.
FAQs about Collecting and Harvesting Colostrum
Q: How much colostrum should I collect?
A: Because of the concentrated consistency of colostrum, you may only be able to collect a few drops at each harvesting session. Remember, your infant’s stomach is only the size of a marble when they are born, so it only takes a few drops of colostrum for each feeding.
Q: How do I collect colostrum without a syringe?
A: A small, sterile collection cup can be used. Syringes and colostrum collectors are more convenient.
Q: Can I use the same syringe to collect colostrum?
A: Yes, you can use the same harvesting syringe for an entire day’s collection of colostrum.
Q: How often should you collect colostrum?
A: Two to three times per day is usual.
Q: Does leaking colostrum mean labour is close?
A: No. Leaking colostrum can happen as early as the second trimester and has nothing to do with the closeness of labour.
Q: How long do you produce colostrum?
A: Colostrum is produced until the mother’s hormones change after birth, and the next phase - transitional milk - is made.
Q: Why is there no colostrum when hand expressing?
A: It takes time for colostrum to appear. It is thick and sticky and is made in very tiny amounts. You may not see any for the first few times you attempt to express it. Adjust your technique and see if another position works better.
Conclusion
Antenatal or pre-birth colostrum expression is called colostrum harvesting. Many mothers start to collect their colostrum at 36 weeks or later to ensure they have a supply of the tiny yellow drops that hold the precious nutrients, antibodies, and immune properties their child needs for healthy growth and development.
We’ve discussed colostrum harvesting, why it is done, and when and how to collect and store it. Nothing is like knowing you have provided the best nutrition to give your child a jump start to a healthy life!
