Colostrum Harvesting

Nov 12

Harvesting colostrum can be an empowering way to prepare for your baby’s arrival, providing them with a valuable source of nutrition in those early days. I’ll be yet another person to refer to this amazing stuff as “liquid gold.”

DON’T WANT TO READ THE WHOLE THING? Know you want to try this?

Here is a link to the Haaka harvesting kit.

Here is the Momcozy kit.

If you like a simpler option: 1 mL syringes!

Okay, now, I’ll cover everything you need to know about colostrum.

What Is Colostrum?

Colostrum is the thick, nutrient-dense milk your body produces before and just after birth. This “first milk” contains a unique combination of proteins, antibodies, and immune-boosting cells that protect your baby from infections and help build their gut health. Although your body only produces small amounts of colostrum, it’s all your newborn needs in the first few days of life, offering concentrated nutrition in every drop.

Even if you don’t plan to breastfeed… I would recommend harvesting colostrum for your newborn and giving to them as their first food!

Supports Blood Sugar Regulation
Colostrum can be a natural way to stabilize a newborn's blood sugar levels, particularly for babies at risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). This includes babies born to people with gestational diabetes or other blood sugar-related conditions, and babies who are born a little early (ANY time before 40 weeks is early in my book!) Early colostrum feeding is the BEST way to support your newborn’s health.
Strengthens Immune Defense
Colostrum is packed with antibodies, especially immunoglobulin A (IgA), which provides a protective layer to the baby’s respiratory and digestive tracts. Babies who receive colostrum early have a strengthened immune response, which is particularly beneficial for those at a higher risk of infection, such as premature or low birth weight infants.
Promotes Gut Health
Colostrum contains beneficial growth factors that help develop the lining of a newborn’s intestines, supporting digestion and nutrient absorption. The prebiotics in colostrum also encourage a healthy gut microbiome, which plays a role in overall immune health.
Supports Breastfeeding Success
Harvesting colostrum allows parents to become familiar with hand-expressing and handling breast milk. This can boost confidence in breastfeeding and may improve milk flow and early lactation success. The first time you breastfeed, NOTHING has come THROUGH your nipples like that before! It’s wild… and giving your body practice time really helps get things flowing so your milk comes in efficiently.
Having a supply of stored colostrum can reduce stress in the postpartum period, providing an option if breastfeeding gets off to a slow start (it’s normal for your milk to transition between 3-5 days postpartum).
Provides a Supplement if Immediate Breastfeeding Isn’t Possible
If a baby is unable to breastfeed right away due to medical reasons or requires time in the NICU, having colostrum stored allows caregivers to provide this first milk, which is especially valuable in the early days when even small amounts can provide significant health benefits.

Something I Hear A Lot

“My milk hasn’t come in! What do I do!?”

My answer?

Colostrum IS BREAST MILK! Keep baby at breast and all will be well :)

Why Harvest Colostrum Before Birth?

Harvesting colostrum while still pregnant can be beneficial, particularly if you or your baby have specific needs, such as:

Gestational Diabetes: Colostrum can help stabilize your newborn’s blood sugar levels.
Anticipated Separation: If your baby may need extra support after birth or may not be able to breastfeed right away, having stored colostrum on hand ensures they get this powerful first milk.
Low Milk Supply Concerns: Storing colostrum can help supplement early feedings if you experience delayed milk production, and has even been shown to improve breastfeeding outcomes for people anticipating low milk supply due to hormonal reasons!

How to Harvest Colostrum Safely

Your body can make colostrum after 26 weeks! If your reading this… you may be thinking… REALY!? And yes. Go try hand expression! Most people start harvesting colostrum around 36–37 weeks of pregnancy, but always check with your healthcare provider before you begin. Here’s a step-by-step guide to hand-expressing colostrum:

Wash Your Hands: Start with clean, dry hands to avoid introducing bacteria.
Get Comfortable: Sit in a relaxed position and try to stay warm—this can help your body release colostrum. Alternatively, you can do this right after a warm shower!
Stimulate Milk Flow: Gently massage your breast with circular motions to encourage flow. (You can skip this step if you want, but it does help!)
Hand-Express: Using clean hands, place your fingers about an inch behind the nipple and apply gentle, rhythmic pressure in, back, together and forward to encourage the colostrum to flow. It will come out in tiny little drops at first. You may need to experiment a little to get it right!
Collect with a Sterile Syringe or Container: Use a small, sterile container (or a syringe) to collect the colostrum, taking care not to touch the inside of the container.
Repeat as Needed: You may be able to express colostrum once or twice a day for a few minutes, though results vary. Even small amounts add up!

Best Ways to Store Colostrum

Once collected, store your colostrum in a way that keeps it safe and fresh:

Refrigeration: Colostrum can be kept in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
Freezing: To keep colostrum for longer, store it in sterile containers or syringes in the freezer. Label each with the date so you can use the oldest first. Frozen colostrum can typically last up to 6 months in a standard freezer.

How to Feed Colostrum to Your Baby

Okay. When your baby is born… you will (hopefully) have taken my First Latch Class and so you will have allowed your baby to do the breast crawl, and practiced latching on their own. Then… you will know that newborns want to eat every 1-3 hours, and it is their ENTIRE JOB to bring your milk in… so just feed them whenever you can. If you feel like your baby is not getting enough colostrum from latching at breast, that’s when it’s really wonderful to have some on hand. So you will thaw frozen syringes or containers in warm water (not hot). Colostrum can be given to your baby in several ways:

Finger Feeding: Sometimes in the hospital you will be given a little tube and a syringe. You will place the tube against your pinky in the baby’s mouth and slowly allow the baby to suck the colostrum- you may need to plunge the syringe for the baby.
Spoon/Cup Feeding: Watch this video from Global Health Media on cup feeding! It’s so cool to see the little babies lapping up their colostrum.
Syringe Feeding: If your baby is learning to latch or still in the hospital, small amounts of colostrum can be given using a syringe in the corner of their mouth, either while they are latched at breast or with a pacifier.

Common Questions About Harvesting Colostrum

1. Is it safe to harvest colostrum before birth?
Yes, for most people, harvesting colostrum after 36 weeks is safe. However, since expressing milk can sometimes stimulate contractions, always consult your healthcare provider if you’re at risk for preterm labor.

2. What if I can’t get much colostrum?
Colostrum comes in very small amounts—just a few drops can be a full feeding for a newborn! Every drop counts, so don’t stress about the quantity… just have a really good storage method.

3. Will expressing colostrum affect my milk supply?
Hand-expressing small amounts of colostrum will not interfere with your overall milk supply. Your body will keep making colostrum until your placenta comes out! In fact, it can be a gentle way to prepare for breastfeeding, especially if you’ve never breastfed before.

Potential Risks of Colostrum Harvesting

Uterine Contractions: Hand-expressing colostrum may trigger mild contractions. While these are usually harmless, they could be a concern if you’re at risk for preterm labor. Essentially, harvesting colostrum will not “make” you go into labor, but if you are already on your way, it will help things along.
Preterm Labor Risk: For those with a history of preterm labor, multiple gestations (twins, triplets), or cervical insufficiency, the stimulation from hand-expression could increase the risk of earlier labor. It’s important to consult with a healthcare provider to assess if it’s safe for your specific pregnancy.
Mild Discomfort: Some people may experience discomfort from the hand-expressing technique… make sure you have someone to ensure you are doing it correctly!
Global Health Media has amazing videos!

What Does the Evidence Say?

While the practice of colostrum harvesting is well-supported by most healthcare providers, formal research is still emerging. Current studies and clinical recommendations suggest that colostrum harvesting may be particularly beneficial in specific cases, such as for babies at risk of hypoglycemia or for mothers with diabetes.

Key findings include:

Hypoglycemia Prevention: Studies have shown that early colostrum feeding can help stabilize blood sugar, potentially reducing the need for formula supplementation in at-risk newborns.
Research on maternal preparation practices suggests that colostrum harvesting may also positively affect bonding and maternal confidence in breastfeeding, which is linked to breastfeeding success and satisfaction.
Gut Health: Clinical observations continue to show that the immunological benefits of colostrum are significant for infants, especially those born prematurely or with health challenges, as they receive a natural boost in immune protection and gut health .

Colostrum harvesting can be a proactive step to support your newborn’s health, can lead to improved breastfeeding outcomes, and provides peace of mind in the early days of breastfeeding.

Harvesting colostrum can be a powerful step in preparing for your baby’s arrival, offering you a way to support their early health and feel more confident heading into the newborn phase. Whether you’re expecting a typical hospital birth or planning a home birth, having colostrum stored and ready to go can offer peace of mind and give your baby a boost in those first few days.

For most people, the benefits outweigh the risks, especially if colostrum harvesting is done with guidance from a healthcare provider after 36 weeks.

If you’re considering colostrum harvesting, it’s a good idea to discuss it with your provider to ensure it’s safe for your specific situation and to receive tips for effective, comfortable hand expression!

If you have questions about harvesting colostrum or would like more support, reach out—I’m here to guide you through each step of your journey.

Love,

Emily

Emily Spaeth