Antenatal colostrum harvesting is hand expressing and freezing colostrum before birth, so there's an emergency supply if feeding is slow to establish. It can be done from around 36 weeks of pregnancy, but you must check with your midwife first that it's appropriate for you. It's most often recommended for anyone expecting an instrumental birth or caesarean section — not for everyone.
When you can start
Antenatal colostrum harvesting can be done from around 36 weeks of pregnancy — but you do need to check with your midwife whether this is appropriate for you.
You can get syringes from your midwife, or buy them online. All you need to do is gently hand express, collect the colostrum in a cup and then draw it into a syringe. It can be stored in the freezer until your baby arrives.
Who it's recommended for
Not all parents need to do it. It's often recommended for anyone who may be having an instrumental birth or a caesarean section, because the anaesthetics used during surgery can sometimes make both parent and baby sleepy, which can affect breastfeeding.
It is entirely possible to breastfeed after a caesarean or instrumental birth. But it can be really reassuring for families to have a little stored colostrum, so the baby can have it as their first feed if there are any problems latching straight away — and over the coming days, if there are difficulties getting breastfeeding established, you have a supply to feed your baby with while you seek support.
How to express
Hand expressing colostrum can be a little challenging at first. It should never be painful. A light breast massage before you begin can help stimulate milk flow.
You can also collect colostrum by hand once your baby is born, and switch to pumping around day 2–3 if the baby still isn't feeding well at the breast. Seek expert support if your baby is not latching — you can find an IBCLC through Lactation Consultants of Great Britain.
Labelling and storage
Colostrum syringes should be labelled with:
- Your full name and date of birth — you can use the sticky labels from your maternity notes
- The date and time the colostrum was harvested, so you can use the oldest milk first
Common questions
When can you start colostrum harvesting?
From around 36 weeks of pregnancy, once your midwife has confirmed it's appropriate for you.
Does everyone need to harvest colostrum?
No. It's most often recommended for those expecting an instrumental birth or caesarean section, where anaesthetics may make parent and baby sleepy.
Should hand expressing hurt?
No. It should never be painful. A light breast massage beforehand can help stimulate flow.
How should colostrum be labelled?
With your full name and date of birth, plus the date and time it was collected so the oldest is used first.
About the author
Charlotte Treitl is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and a Babyem tutor, supporting families with infant feeding from pregnancy through the postnatal period.
Support families from pregnancy onwards
Babyem's accredited training covers antenatal preparation, early feeding and how to troubleshoot problems before they escalate.