Successful Colostrum Harvesting - Preparing for Newborn Feeding Success
Successful Colostrum Harvesting
Preparing for Newborn Feeding Success
Colostrum, often known as "liquid gold," is the first milk your breasts produce, packed with essential nutrients and antibodies perfect for newborns. This precious fluid, typically thick and yellowish, rusty-colored, or even clear, provides numerous health benefits, supporting your baby’s immune system and overall wellbeing. Antenatal colostrum harvesting, or collecting colostrum during pregnancy, is a practice many expectant mothers choose to support their baby's early nutritional needs.
Why Collect Colostrum Before Birth?
Antenatal colostrum harvesting may be especially helpful if there's a known risk your baby could struggle with breastfeeding. This includes babies born prematurely, those with conditions like cleft palate, or babies whose mothers have gestational diabetes. With gestational diabetes, for example, stored colostrum can support your baby's blood sugar levels if needed right after birth.
Beyond practical benefits, colostrum harvesting also allows you to connect with your body before birth. Getting familiar with expressing colostrum can offer an alternative way to feed your baby in the early hours or days if establishing breastfeeding proves challenging. It’s important to remember that colostrum production during pregnancy doesn’t predict your overall milk supply after birth.
How to Express Colostrum Safely
Before starting to collect colostrum, always consult your healthcare provider. Most mothers begin harvesting colostrum around 36 weeks gestation, though it can vary. Here’s a basic guide for expressing colostrum safely:
Prepare by Warming Up: Warm up by taking a warm shower or applying a gentle heat pack to help with let-down.
Position Your Fingers in a “C” Shape: Place your thumb and forefinger about an inch behind your nipple, creating a “C” shape around the base of your areola.
Compress Gently: Press your fingers back towards your chest, gently compressing the milk ducts. This compress-release movement should result in small droplets of colostrum. Don’t worry if the flow is limited at first—this is entirely normal.
Consult with your healthcare provider if you have conditions like placenta previa, a short cervix, or a history of preterm labor, as colostrum harvesting may not be recommended.
How to Collect and Store Colostrum
Once you've expressed a few drops, use a sterile syringe or a small medicine cup to collect the colostrum. Here’s a simple storage guide:
Syringe Collection: Using a sterile syringe, gather the colostrum droplets.
Freezer Storage: Store collected syringes in the freezer within a sealed freezer bag. Be sure to label each syringe with your name, date, and time of collection.
Transport and Use: When bringing colostrum to the hospital, pack it in a freezer bag with ice packs to keep it frozen. At the hospital, confirm that it’s labeled accurately to ensure the right colostrum reaches your baby.
Important Considerations
While colostrum harvesting offers benefits, it’s crucial to follow guidelines and consult with a healthcare provider:
Timing: Wait until 36 weeks to start hand expressing, unless otherwise advised.
Avoid Excessive Stimulation: To reduce the risk of early labor, avoid extensive breast stimulation, especially before 34 weeks.
Check for Health Conditions: If you have specific medical conditions, check with your doctor first to ensure colostrum harvesting is safe.
The Benefits of Being Prepared
Taking steps to harvest colostrum before birth gives you a valuable head start for feeding your baby. Whether or not you need to use it, colostrum harvesting empowers you with knowledge and preparation to confidently approach breastfeeding.
We highly recommend completing antenatal birth education to gain a deeper understanding in collecting colostrum and how to prepare for your breastfeeding journey.
For more information on colostrum harvesting or to book a lactation consultation, reach out to us at Milk & Mums Co. or visit our website at milkandmumsco.com.au.