Tips & advice · 4 min read
All about antenatal expressing
Antenatal expressing, collecting colostrum by hand before the birth, can be worthwhile in certain situations. Important: always do this in consultation with your midwife or doctor.
What is antenatal expressing?
Antenatal expressing is collecting colostrum by hand, the first, nourishing breast milk, during the last weeks of pregnancy. The collected colostrum is stored and frozen, so it is available after birth as an extra boost for the start of breastfeeding.
Who can it be worthwhile for?
Antenatal expressing is not recommended as standard, but can be valuable in specific situations, for example with (gestational) diabetes, when a separated start or extra supplementary feeding is expected, or with certain medical considerations. Your midwife or doctor looks at whether it is useful in your situation.
From when?
Antenatal expressing is usually only started around 36 to 37 weeks of pregnancy, and only with your care provider’s agreement. Starting earlier is discouraged, certainly with an increased risk of premature birth, because breast stimulation can trigger contractions.
How do you store the colostrum?
Colostrum is collected in small sterile syringes, labelled with the date and frozen straight away. Your midwife explains the correct technique and storage rules and helps you get started.
Always in consultation
Antenatal expressing is safe for most women whose pregnancy is progressing normally, but it is not a good idea with certain risks. So always discuss it first with your midwife or doctor. They guide you from start to storage.