Colostrum Collection

Did you know you can begin collecting colostrum in pregnancy?
Around 37 weeks is the perfect time for most mothers-to-be to begin.
Disclaimer: It is always best to check with your health care provider prior to beginning.

Prenatal colostrum collection is most beneficial when families are/will experience these  circumstances:

• induction of labour
• planned cesarean birth
• mothers with diabetes
• a baby with a cleft lip/palate
• circumstances separating mother + baby (neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
• infants with a higher likelihood of jaundice (Asian parentage)1
• known medical conditions, mom or baby
• previous breast surgery

As you begin, please remember that 2-7ml of colostrum is an adequate feed for a newborn baby. You do not need to remove much from the breast to feed your baby well. Colostrum is nutrient dense and the PERFECT food for a new baby!

Learning how to hand express is a "triple P skill" best mastered with practice, patience and perseverance. Colostrum is thick and sticky, like syrup, it is best removed with hand expression, not a breast pump.

Before you get started you will require the following supplies: 

1. A collection means  (medi cups, shot glasses, or teaspoons)
2. 1ml syringes for colostrum collection and storage (used to feed to baby)

Dr. Jane Morton's video will assist your learning how to effectively hand express: 
https://med.stanford.edu/newborns/professional-education/breastfeeding/hand-expressing-milk.html

Another resource to print + review prior to beginning hand expression is the PDF below.2

Sources:
1  https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/191624

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collecting_colostrum_in_pregnancy.pdf
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