Can you use breast pump for colostrum

Colostrum, otherwise known as liquid gold, is those first drops of milk you produce before the real stuff comes in. To listen to some people talk about it, you would think it's the mystical cross between the best spell ever uttered at Hogwarts and all the miracles of modern medicine. While it's not a magic potion, it is really good for your baby. But can you pump your colostrum, or is it only available to your baby through breastfeeding?

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How long should you pump for colostrum?
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Can you pump colostrum before birth?
How do I stimulate my breast to make colostrum?

You absolutely can express colostrum without breastfeeding, but maybe not in the way you're thinking. The early precursor to milk is a bit more complicated to pump than the more liquid milk you'll produce later on. Colostrum is a very easily digestible form of milk that's high in protein, carbohydrates, and antibodies that help prepare your baby for life on the outside, according to La Leche League. It's also very sticky, and a lot thicker than regular breast milk. When it comes to expressing this antibody-filled sticky wonder food, you might be tempted to break out the double electric pump to really get every last drop, but that might not be the best idea. According to breastfeeding website KellyMom, hand-expression is often the best and easiest way to manually pump colostrum in the early hours after birth.

Hand expression can seem strange at first — you're basically milking yourself — but I promise, once you get the hang of it, you'll be glad you've learned. It's a super handy technique to use when you're engorged or have a plugged duct, too.

I spoke with mom and maternity nurse Amber Taylor and asked her about what she's seen and what works when it comes to pumping your colostrum. She tells Romper that when it comes to using a breast pump, "it's possible [to pump colostrum], but on the floor, we always try to get our mothers to start the process with manual stimulation. For some reason, it just seems to work better." Taylor says she has seen this time and time again. While hospitals may have some seriously powerful and pricey pumps for you to use while you're there, machines can't always get the job done as efficiently as good old woman power.

"After the first couple of days though, by all means, switch to the machine, and pump often if you're not nursing," Taylor says. KellyMom suggested that you pump eight to 10 times per day, writing that you should "pump for 30 minutes per session, or for two to five minutes after the last drops of milk." But when you're hand expressing, it might take a bit longer to get things started, says Taylor. "Your nurse or lactation consultant should be able to help you learn the technique. It's going to be a learning process, and it will probably take you a while to get the right rhythm down for optimal let-down of your milk." It can also just get really tiring, I'm not going to lie.

You might have heard about women who can express colostrum before giving birth, and there is some science behind the practice. According to the Diabetes and Antenatal Milk Expression study, women who have diabetes are often encouraged to express colostrum in the last weeks of pregnancy. That's because their children are sometimes born with acute hypoglycemia and require the immediate, additional nutrition that colostrum can provide, according to BMJ.

This is a very specific set of circumstances, and should not be a unilaterally adopted practice due to an increased risk of preterm or early labor, noted the journal. Researchers wrote that you should only attempt to express colostrum before your baby is born under the close supervision of a doctor, and only at their suggestion.

As for the rest of us just trying to eek out some super juice for our babies after they're born, it's all hands on deck. By all means, talk to your nurses or your lactation consultant if you plan on attempting to express colostrum. They can help you work it out, and hopefully, bottle a little bit of that liquid gold for your baby.

I’m a mom-to-be and this will be my first time breastfeeding. What if my baby has trouble nursing in the beginning, can I pump my colostrum so my baby doesn’t miss any important nutrients?

If your baby is nursing well after delivery, then there will be no need to pump colostrum in the early days. If your baby was born early or not nursing well for other reasons, then it may be necessary for you to pump your colostrum so baby can still reap its nutritional benefits. Packed with protein, antibodies, and vitamin a, colostrum is the perfect first food for your baby. It’s also low in fat and will be thicker than regular breast milk when you pump—so don’t worry; it’s supposed to carry a yellowish hue! That’s how colostrum got the nickname “liquid gold” and it lives up to its title.

The most effective way to pump colostrum is hands-on pumping, which is a combination of using a hand massage and an electric breast pump. Because colostrum is thicker than your typical breast milk, pumping might take more effort to express fully. But don’t be discouraged, each time you pump in the first few days you will see a little more colostrum!

Have another breastfeeding question? Let us know in the comments and we’ll bring you the answers you need!

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The post Can I Pump Colostrum If My Baby Is Having Trouble Nursing? appeared first on Leading Lady.

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How long should you pump for colostrum?

Aim to spend 15 to 20 minutes hooked up to the pump to net a good amount of breast milk (some women will need 30 minutes or more with the pump, especially in the early days). Pump until the milk starts slowing down and your breasts feel well-drained. Be sure to clean the breast flanges after every use.

When can I start pumping colostrum?

Start expressing at around 36 weeks into your pregnancy. Stop if at any time you start to feel contractions or vaginal bleeding. Remember that any amount of colostrum will be beneficial to your baby. The amount of colostrum women can express varies widely while they are pregnant.

Can you pump colostrum before birth?

If you have a normal, healthy pregnancy, there is absolutely no harm in pumping colostrum before the baby arrives. If you want to plan ahead and save enough for a bottle or two, you can let your partner or a family member be in charge of a feeding when you take a much-needed postpartum nap.

How do I stimulate my breast to make colostrum?

Gently press your thumb and fingers together, release your fingers and repeat in a rhythmic movement. It may take a few minutes so be patient! Gradually your breast milk (or colostrum) will start to slowly drip out. Keep going, try to build up a rhythm – you're doing really well!