Prenatal Colostrum Harvesting

Should I express some colostrum during pregnancy to have on hand later?

In most pregnancies it is not needed or recommended. However, in certain situations—and only with your doctor's guidance—hand expressing colostrum, during late pregnancy, can be helpful. 

In these special circumstances, the main goal is to have extra colostrum ready right after your baby is born—in case they have trouble breastfeeding or need extra support.

Here are some common reasons your doctor might suggest collecting colostrum before birth:

• Diabetes During Pregnancy: (Gestational, Type 1, or Type 2)

  • Babies born to moms with diabetes may have low blood sugar after birth. Having colostrum ready means your baby can get extra colostrum instead of formula to help keep their blood sugar stable.

• Planned C-section

  • A C-section might delay the first breastfeeding session and when your mature milk "comes in". If you’ve stored colostrum, your baby can get some, even if skin-to-skin time or nursing is delayed. 

• Risk of Preterm Birth

  • Babies born very prematurely may not be able to latch or suck well. Even babies born between 34–36 weeks might need extra breastfeeding support. Extra colostrum can be given with a syringe, spoon, or feeding tube until your baby is ready to nurse.

• Multiples

  • Having more than one baby increases the chance they’ll be born early or need care in the NICU. Having extra colostrum helps meet their needs if they can’t breastfeed right away.

• Health Concerns

  • If your baby is expected to have health issues (like a cleft palate) that could affect breastfeeding, stored colostrum can help meet their needs while you work with your care team to establish nursing.

  • Conditions like PCOS, thyroid disorders, or previous breast surgery can sometimes affect milk supply. Expressing colostrum before birth can give your baby an extra boost, while breastfeeding gets established.

Do not attempt to express colostrum if:

• • You have not gotten approval from your doctor
  • Your pregnancy is considered high risk
  • You are less than 36 weeks gestation

Collect colostrum through hand expression only—NO PUMPING. Expressing without medical guidance can trigger contractions and increase the risk of preterm labor.

Having extra colostrum ready can be helpful, especially if your baby needs supplementation. Be sure it’s used to support breastfeeding, not replace it, since nursing directly at the breast helps establish and maintain your milk supply.

SOURCE:

https://llli.org/breastfeeding-info/colostrum-prenatal-antenatal-expression/