If you’re in your third trimester of pregnancy, your midwife might have mentioned something called “colostrum harvesting” and you may be wondering what it is and why you are being advised to do it. Simply put, colostrum harvesting is the process of expressing and storing your first breastmilk, colostrum, before your baby arrives.

 

What is Colostrum?

Colostrum is often called liquid gold for good reason. It is packed with your antibodies, nutrients, and everything your newborn needs in those first precious days. It can help stabilise their blood sugars, help maintain their temperature, support their immunity, kickstart their digestive system, and even reduce the risk of jaundice. It really is the best thig you can do for your baby once they arrive.

 

Why Harvest Colostrum?

Harvesting colostrum can be especially helpful if your baby needs extra care after birth—for example, if you have diabetes, are having a planned caesarean, or if your baby is expected to be ill, small, or arrive prematurely. But actually, what the evidence shows is that anyone can do it and in fact should be encouraged to do it, and many parents find peace of mind knowing they have a small supply on hand should they need it for whatever reason.

 

When to Start

Your midwife will recommend starting from 37 weeks of pregnancy, as long as your pregnancy is low-risk. Always check with your midwife or obstetrician before you begin, and don’t start harvesting before 37 weeks unless you have been advised to by an obstetrician.

 

How to Do It

Colostrum harvesting involves hand-expressing your milk into a sterile syringe or container. It can take a little practice, but My Expert Midwife has lots of useful information which will show you how, why, where, and when, including how to store it. It is an invaluable skill to learn that also helps you become familiar with your body before breastfeeding begins.

 

Storing Your Colostrum
Once expressed, your colostrum can be labelled and frozen, ready to take with you to the hospital in a cool bag when labour begins.

 

A Final Word

Every drop counts, some women collect lots of colostrum, others a few drops. Either way, it’s valuable so keep hold of it and use it. You’re doing something incredible for your baby, and this small step can make a huge difference.