Expressing Colostrum for Your Baby

Colostrum...What is it?

Colostrum is the first milk that your breasts produce. This early milk contains higher levels of substances that help to protect your baby against infection, and growth factors that prepare the intestines to digest and absorb milk. When mothers deliver early, their colostrum has even higher levels of these protective substances. For that reason, any drops expressed should be saved.

Expression, Collection and Storage of Colostrum...How do I do it?

Colostrum is expressed for the first few days after delivery. Frequent use of a breast pump is recommended to collect this early milk. Colostrum is present in very small amounts and can vary in appearance from watery to a thick yellow. The average total amount of colostrum is less than an ounce for the first full day of pumping. The amount of colostrum expressed will increase over the next few days before turning into mature milk. These first few drops of colostrum have a special purpose. They contain higher levels of an antibody called secretory IgA. This is found only in human breast milk.

Your colostrum should be the first milk the baby receives. For this reason, it is important to distinguish it from other milk. The way we ask this to be done, is by placing a yellow sticker on the top of each bottle for the first four full days of pumping. On the yellow sticker, write the number of the pumping session. For example, put a "1" on the first, "2" on the second, and so forth. We will either freeze or refrigerate your colostrum, depending on when the baby can be fed. You will be advised upon your discharge whether to freeze or refrigerate your milk at home before transporting it to the hospital. It can be kept for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator before it must be used.

Colostrum Composition...How long does my body make it?

The change from colostrum to mature milk is gradual. Slowly the breasts start to produce milk that is higher in fat and calories. You can stop putting yellow stickers on the bottle tops after four full days of expression.