Antenatal Colostrum Collection
- Tiny Human Co. .
- Apr 26
- 2 min read
Collecting colostrum antenatally (before birth) is a great way to build confidence in the skill of hand expressing, give your milk supply a head start, and have a little extra colostrum on hand for supplementing in the early days.
When should you start?
36 weeks is typically the safest time for most people to begin collecting colostrum. If your pregnancy is considered high risk, or if you are on any sort of pelvic rest then it is likely best to avoid collecting colostrum antenatally. To be safe we recommend speaking with your obstetrician or midwife to ensure this is the safest choice for you.
The act of hand expression will not release enough oxytocin to trigger labour to start, however if you are noticing cramping or discomfort when hand expressing it is best to stop and try again in a few days.
Hand expression vs. pumping
The "milk ejection reflex" or "letdown" is triggered when the nipples are stimulated and send hormone signals to the brain to release prolactin (responsible for making milk) and oxytocin (responsible for releasing milk) . This reflex doesn't come online until after babe is born for most people, meaning you aren't likely to respond to a pump. Hand expressing bypasses this reflex by physically squeezing the colostrum from the gland it is produced in.
How it's done
Start by gently massaging your
breasts for 1-2 minutes
Position your fingers about 1 inch back from your areola, position your hand in a U or C shape
Press back towards your chest wall and squeeze your fingers together.
Relax and repeat until you see drops begin to appear on your nipple.
Collect the drops of colostrum in a sterile syringe.
Colostrum collection kits are available for purchase through our shop!
Repeat this motion for about 10-15 minutes, or until you have filled the syringe. Label the syringe with your name and the date the colostrum was expressed.
Sometimes you will not collect anything, or only a few drops. This is normal, and nothing to worry about. Keep trying once or twice a day, this is a skill that can take time.
Colostrum can be stored in the freezer for 6-12 months. To thaw and warm it place the capped syringe in a cup of warm water, or hold it tightly in your hand for a few minutes.
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