My Journey Collecting Colostrum Starting at 37 Weeks Pregnant
With my second pregnancy, I knew I wanted to prepare a little differently than I had the first time around. With my first baby, I had trouble latching, pain with breastfeeding, and my baby had extremely poor weight gain his first month of life. This is why I asked my doctor at 37 weeks pregnant with my second if I was cleared to start colostrum collection. I got the OK due to my low risk pregnancy and previous birth history. Once I received approval, I began hand-expressing and saving that “liquid gold” for my newborn.
What is Colostrum?
Colostrum is the very first milk your body makes during pregnancy and in the first few days after birth. It’s usually thick, golden, and nutrient-dense. I like to call it a “superfood for babies” because it’s packed with antibodies, proteins, and immune-boosting power. Even just a few drops can do amazing things for a baby’s health.
Why I Decided to Collect Colostrum Before Birth
For me, colostrum collection was about peace of mind. With my first baby, I had a tough start to breastfeeding and remember the stress of worrying if my baby was getting enough. This time, I wanted to be prepared. Having a small stash meant that if my new baby had any latching issues, low blood sugar, or needed extra supplementation, I’d already have nutrient-rich colostrum ready.
It can be especially reassuring for moms with certain situations like gestational diabetes, planned C-sections, or multiples. For me personally, it was about giving myself (and my baby) a little extra support right from the start.
How I Collected Colostrum
Here’s what I did each session:
Washed my hands thoroughly.
Gently hand-expressed instead of using a pump (colostrum is thick and comes in drops, not streams).
Collected each drop into a sterile syringe or container.
Labeled the syringe with my name, the date, and time (Follow CDC breastmilk storage guidelines)
Stored it immediately in the fridge or freezer.
The first few times I only got a drop or two, and that’s completely normal! Colostrum is produced in very small amounts, and every single drop counts.
Important Things I Learned
Always check with your doctor before starting. Pumping or expression in pregnancy may cause contractions, so I only started after my provider gave me the green light.
Be patient: it can take practice and may feel slow at first.
Stop if you ever feel pain or discomfort.
- When I first started, I was doing only hand expression into a small pre-sterilized vile. It was only drops at a time for the first week.
- The second week, I used again hand expression, and addition of a manual pump. I started to get more colostrum collected at this time, again using tiny vials that were pre-sterilized and could be frozen.
-At 39 weeks, I used hand expression, manual pump, and a wearable pump. I started to get out even more, especially with the wearable pump! I froze the collected colostrum to have ready anytime baby would get sick, or if baby had low blood sugar, or issues latching like I had with my first baby.
My baby arrived at 39 wk 6 days naturally and without induction! Luckily, my second baby had a better latch than my first and I continue to work on directly nursing🤱🏻 I would harvest colostrum during that first week after nursing to store extra however I could (wearable pumps and manual pump). I have since used colostrum as a first line of defense against any illness, for eczema skin care, treatment for eye irritation, as a supplement while I was at work, and some was donated!
This journey was amazing for me! But remember, it’s not for everyone and it’s a must to talk with your doctor or midwife before starting ✨🤍
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Remember: This is not medical advice, just my personal experience. Always consult your own doctor for what’s right for you.
