NHS Forth Valley – Colostrum Harvesting

A Guide for Women on Hand Expressing Colostrum During Pregnancy.

Do not start colostrum harvesting before 36 weeks of pregnancy, as expressing could trigger contractions or Braxton Hicks.
If you experience contractions while hand expressing, stop and rest. Contact maternity triage on 01324 567098 if contractions do not stop after a couple of hours, or if you have any other concerns.
Do not express if any of the following apply to you:
- You have ever had a cervical suture
- You have ever had a preterm labour
- You have a low lying placenta (placenta praevia)
- You are pregnant with twins, triplets, or more
- You have polyhydramnios (too much fluid around the baby)
If unsure whether it is safe for you to express colostrum, check with your midwife first.

Start colostrum harvesting from 36 – 37 weeks.
Express between one and three times per day for up to 10 minutes each time.
You do not need to express every day.
Colostrum is produced in very small volumes. Some women don’t see any droplets, while others can get 2mls or more. This does not indicate how successful breastfeeding will be.
Colostrum is packed full of nutrients for your baby. It might be watery or thick like syrup, and can be a range of colours from clear to cream, yellow, or even brown.

Wash your hands thoroughly. Ensure you are in a private space and comfortable. To encourage milk flow, gently massage your breast and nipple to stimulate the hormones needed to release milk.
Position your thumb and fingers in a ‘C’ shape, 2 to 3cm back from the base of your nipple.
Gently press and release, repeating until your milk starts to flow. This may take a few minutes. You may not see anything at all, or maybe just a glistening on the surface of your nipple.
When the flow slows down, move your fingers round to a different part of your breast and start again.

Your expressing pack should include sterile syringes. If you need more, ask your midwife.
As you express, gently suck the droplets of colostrum into the syringe. Some women prefer to express into a sterile container and then draw it up into the syringe for storing.
You can add milk into the same syringe for 24 hours, but keep the syringe in the fridge between uses and freeze at the end of the day.

When transporting to hospital, place in a cool bag with freezer pack, cool blocks, or ice.
Inform staff immediately on arrival so it can be appropriately stored until required.
Label each syringe with your name, CHI number (or date of birth if you don’t know it), and the date you expressed.
Place labelled syringes into a plastic food storage bag and store:
- In the fridge (0 – 4°C) for up to 5 days
- In the freezer compartment of a fridge for up to 2 weeks
- In a freezer (-18°C) for up to 6 months
It is recommended to freeze your milk as soon as possible.