Antenatal Expressing

Antenatal expressing/colostrum harvesting 

From 37 weeks your LMC may advise you to begin antenatal hand expressing of colostrum. You may have a medical condition such as gestational diabetes or you may be growing a small baby. These babies may require colostrum supplementation after birth. You will be able to freeze the colostrum you collect, until your baby is born. Some women find it difficult to express directly into a syringe as this requires you to suction each droplet. You could try expressing into a teaspoon, egg cup, or small glass, then transfer the colostrum to a syringe or colostrum collector for freezing. Make sure everything has been sterilised. 

To collect colostrum

• Wash your hands and find somewhere comfy to sit
• Ensure whatever you are going to use to collect the colostrum is clean
• Heat your breasts up (a wheat bag or hot shower can help) 
• Place your hand in a C shape on the outside on your breast 
• Begin to push your thumb and fingers gently back towards your chest, then bring them together while you move towards your nipple
• Repeat till you start to get small drops of colostrum

Massaging your breasts before you begin can help to ‘loosen’ the colostrum from your milk ducts so it is easier for you to express. You may not get colostrum straight away, keep massaging as the colostrum needs to make its way into your nipple. Your LMC or a Lactation Consultant will be able to help you if you are having problems. These photos show colostrum being collected into a colostrum collector.