Colostrum, often referred to as liquid gold, is the first form of breastmilk produced during pregnancy and in the early days after birth. It’s rich in nutrients, antibodies, and white blood cells, and plays a vital role in building your baby’s immune system. Whether you’re planning to express colostrum during the weeks of pregnancy or need guidance postnatally, understanding how to store colostrum properly can give your baby the best start in life.
What Is Colostrum and Why Is It Important?
Colostrum is the thick, yellowish first milk produced by your body, typically from around 16 to 22 weeks of gestation onward. It’s secreted in small amounts of colostrum, often just drops of milk at a time, and is perfectly tailored to your newborn baby’s needs. Even a small amount of colostrum supports the baby’s gut and helps stabilise blood glucose levels, particularly in babies at risk of low blood sugar levels.
Colostrum acts as a natural laxative, helping babies pass their first stools and reducing baby’s risk of jaundice. It’s also an important defence against infection thanks to its immune-boosting properties.
Why Store Colostrum?
There are many reasons why someone might want to store colostrum:
- You’re preparing for baby’s birth and want a good start to exclusive breastfeeding
- Your baby may be born early or with medical conditions like cleft lip, making feeding difficult in the early hours
- You’ve been advised by a lactation consultant, healthcare provider, or community midwife to collect colostrum for future use
- You want to be prepared in case of delayed milk production after the arrival of your baby
In these cases, antenatal hand expression can be a useful way to collect colostrum in small quantities for storage.
When to Begin Colostrum Harvesting
The best time to start antenatal expression of colostrum is from around 36 to 37 weeks of pregnancy, but you should always check with your health care provider before starting, particularly if you have complications such as placenta previa, preterm labour, or a history of miscarriage. The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine and the National Breastfeeding Helpline are good sources of support and information.
How to Collect Colostrum
Before you begin collecting colostrum, make sure your hands are clean. Then follow these steps:
- Apply warmth: Place a bowl of warm water on your chest or use a warm compress for a few minutes to encourage flow of colostrum.
- Gentle massage: Spend a few minutes of gentle breast massage, working in a circular motion around the areas of your breast.
- Hand express: Use your thumb and forefinger to compress behind the base of the nipple (like the clock face method) and collect drops of colostrum into a sterile syringe, sterile teaspoon, or colostrum collectors.
- Label everything: Include the date and time of collection.
Avoid using a breast pump in the antenatal period unless instructed by a medical professional, as nipple stimulation could cause contractions.
How to Store Colostrum Safely
Colostrum must be stored correctly to maintain the best quality for your baby. Here’s how to do it:
Storage Containers
- Use a sterilised container, ml syringe, or a re-sealable food bag.
- Some people use plastic bags designed for breast milk, but these must be pre-sterilised.
Storage Temperatures
- Colostrum can be safely stored for up to 4 hours at room temperature (up to 25°C).
- It can be stored for up to 48 hours at 4°C or lower in the back of the fridge (not the door).
- Frozen colostrum can be stored for up to 6 months at -18°C or lower, though various factors like freezer type may affect this.
If you’re transporting colostrum to the hospital, use ice packs and a cool bag to prevent temperature changes that could encourage bacterial growth.
Bringing Stored Colostrum to the Hospital
If you’ve collected colostrum in the early days before your baby’s birth, let your hospital staff know. Bring your frozen colostrum in a clearly labelled container, ideally in a cool bag with ice packs. This helps ensure your baby has access to early milk even if you experience feeding problems or a delay in your milk supply.
Feeding Your Baby with Stored Colostrum
In most cases, newborn babies can be fed colostrum using a syringe, teaspoon, or small cup. This avoids nipple confusion and is gentle on a baby’s stomach. Direct breastfeeding is ideal for full-term babies with no feeding problems, but stored colostrum can be especially helpful as a first step while breastfeeding is established.
How Often Should I Express Colostrum?
Some parents express colostrum once or twice a day, while others benefit from daily hand expression in the final weeks of pregnancy. Try not to worry about how much milk you get; even a few drops of colostrum can make a difference. The effective way is to be consistent rather than aiming for volume.
Can Colostrum Be Reused or Reheated?
No. Once colostrum collectors or containers have been warmed and opened, their contents should be used immediately and not refrozen. If you are unsure, always check with your lactation consultant or healthcare provider.
Building Confidence with Antenatal Expression
For many expectant parents, antenatal expressing can feel unfamiliar or even daunting at first. It’s completely normal to feel unsure about how to begin, especially when it involves handling such small amounts of colostrum. But with patience and support, it often becomes easier over time.
The act of hand expressing can also help familiarise you with your own body and support early milk production by stimulating your breasts. Some people report that consistent daily hand expression of colostrum in the lead-up to labour helped them feel more prepared and confident about feeding once their baby arrived.
You might notice your supply of colostrum increasing slightly the more regularly you express. However, it’s important to focus on comfort rather than quantity. Your baby’s newborn stomach is incredibly small, and even a few drops of colostrum are enough for a good start.
Choosing the Right Tools for Collection and Storage
If you’re expressing colostrum at home, it’s worth assembling a small kit to make the process smoother. This could include:
- Sterile syringes (often provided by your midwife or hospital)
- Colostrum collectors or small feeding cups
- Sterilised containers with secure lids
- Re-sealable food bags to hold labelled syringes for future use
- A cool bag with ice packs for transport
Some parents also keep a clean towel nearby for warmth and comfort, or a mirror to help see where to position their fingers during hand expression.
Colostrum for Babies With Special Feeding Needs
For some babies, having stored colostrum on hand is more than helpful; it’s essential. Babies who are born early, are unwell, or have feeding problems due to cleft lip or other conditions may struggle to feed directly from the breast at first.
In such cases, expressed colostrum can be a vital bridge, providing early nourishment while direct breastfeeding is being established. It’s gentle on the baby’s stomach, easier to digest than mature milk, and full of protective antibodies.
Establishing a Breastfeeding Routine Post-Birth
Even if you’ve expressed colostrum during pregnancy, continuing to hand express after the baby’s birth can help support your milk supply. The early hours and first days after delivery are crucial for establishing feeding patterns and signalling your body to produce more milk.
Midwives and feeding specialists often recommend antenatal hand expression as a great foundation. Once your baby is born, nipple stimulation and frequent feeding, or expressing, help bring in your mature milk by around day three to five.
When to Ask for Help
If you’re finding the process of collecting or storing colostrum stressful, know that you’re not alone. Reach out to your community midwife, health visitor, or a qualified lactation consultant for support. These professionals can provide individual advice based on your medical history and feeding goals.
You can also contact the National Breastfeeding Helpline for free, confidential support if you have questions about antenatal colostrum expression, storage times, or the best way to manage temperature changes during storage.
Final Words
Whether you’re collecting colostrum as part of a plan for better health outcomes or simply want to be prepared for the first step of your feeding journey, having a supply of colostrum stored safely can be reassuring.
By following proper storage temperatures, using sterilised containers, and seeking support from hospital staff or breastfeeding experts, you’re taking proactive steps to give your baby the best quality nourishment right from the start.
Remember, every drop counts, and no effort is wasted. Your commitment, whether you express a breast drop or a full syringe, shows care, preparation, and love. That’s the heart of colostrum harvesting, and it’s something to feel proud of.
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