So, you’re pregnant, and somewhere around the 16-week mark, your breasts start gearing up for their main event – feeding your future tiny human. Suddenly, you might notice some mysterious yellow droplets on your nipples and think, “What in the world…?”

Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of colostrum. This highly concentrated superfood comes in tiny amounts and is perfect for baby’s small tummy. Babies only need around 5-7ml of the stuff in their first few feeds because it is so nutritionally dense!

Some people start leaking like a tap, while others don’t see a drop. Either way, it’s all perfectly normal, so don’t sweat it. How much you leak (or don’t) has zero bearing on how your breastfeeding journey will go. Your body knows what it’s doing – even if it feels like you’re starring in a bizarre science experiment.

But what’s with the trend of harvesting this golden goo before the baby even arrives? Well, some hospitals are now encouraging parents-to-be to start expressing colostrum from around 37 weeks, and here’s why it might be worth considering:

-Practice Makes Perfect: Hand expression is like a secret weapon in your breastfeeding arsenal. Getting the hang of it before your baby shows up can save you some stress later on. Plus, it’s a good way to get comfortable with your new, milk-making superpowers.

-Colostrum Insurance: Picture this – you’ve got a tiny stash of colostrum tucked away in the freezer, ready to roll. If your baby struggles with feeding, you’ve got a backup plan. Low blood sugar? No problem. Feeding hiccups? You’ve got this! Your colostrum is like a first-aid kit, but with more antibodies.

-Labour Worries? Don’t Stress It: There’s a common fear that expressing colostrum might kickstart labour because, yes, nipple stimulation releases oxytocin – the hormone that helps get the party started. But here’s the thing: if your healthcare provider is cool with you still having sexy time (which, let’s face it, also releases oxytocin), then hand expressing is usually safe too. Double-check with your doc, but chances are, you’re good to go.

So, should you join the colostrum-harvesting club? That’s totally up to you! Think of it as a little extra prep work before your big debut as a parent. Just be sure to get the thumbs-up from your healthcare team first. After all, they’re your co-pilots on this wild ride

Click here to read my ‘how to’ on Colostrum Harvesting.

Further Reading/Resources:

https://lllrochester.weebly.com/marmet-technique-of-manual-expression.html

Expressing Colostrum Antenatally

Antenatal Expression of Colostrum

Expressing your milk before your baby arrives