It is an impressively concentrated substance that acts as your baby’s first immune system defense after birth. It also helps protect baby's gut and works as a laxative to push through bubs first poo! You'll notice relatively small amounts of colostrum immediately after birth and for the first couple of days before it begins to transition to mature milk. Before you begin expressing during pregnancy, please speak to your midwife or healthcare professional as nipple stimulation can induce labour. It is recommended that you express at full-term and only if you are planning a vaginal delivery, to ensure the safest outcomes. As Alexandra says above, these are designed to catch leaks while you go about your daily life so that you can save every drop for future feeds. It is strongly recommended for some mothers to express during pregnancy. This could be the case if you have gestational diabetes, as the expressed colostrum will come in handy to help regulate baby’s blood sugar levels after birth. Expressing colostrum during pregnancy may also be recommended if your baby has been diagnosed with a cleft lip or palate from their ultrasound. These babies may find it difficult to initially latch, and expressed colostrum will help both of you with your breastfeeding journey. Make a wide ‘C-grip’ from the side of your breast with your thumb and index finger. Begin wide to stimulate all those ducts that are around your breast.

Colostrum is the special milk that mothers, and all mammals, produce during late pregnancy, and more specifically, in the first few days after your baby is born. It is produced by the mammary glands in your breasts and mamas can begin to make it from about 16 weeks pregnant! For me, it seemed to work best when my daughter was nursing out of one breast and the Haakaa was suctioned to the other. After a couple of minutes – and with a little bit of squeezing the pump base – I was able to get a nice flow going. (I didn't try to pump too much because I don't actually need to build a stash for my 17-month-old.) Along with the vitamin A that makes colostrum yellow and helps with eye development, colostrum is rich in other minerals too! These include magnesium, which supports your baby’s heart and bones, and copper and zinc, which helps develop bub’s immune system. Zinc can assist in brain development, with nearly four times more zinc in colostrum than in your mature milk, to support your baby’s rapidly developing brain!If your colostrum looks pink, red, rust-colored or brown, do not be alarmed. Sometimes blood within milk ducts can make its way into your colostrum resulting in the above colours, which is not harmful.

This is common practice for mums with gestational diabetes to help the baby to regulate their blood sugar but increasingly, women with uncomplicated pregnancies are jumping onboard the colostrum expression train . This is due to the benefits of having a stash of colostrum on hand for the period immediately after birth. Women who have access to colostrum are able to use this in the interim period between birth and when their milk comes in fully. Perfect for those cluster feeding nights when your baby just wants to be on the boob!

The Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump

Up until now, the only option for antenatal expressing of colostrum is into single-use plastic syringes. However, this is less than ideal as these syringes cannot be reused and harm the planet. Plastic also has the potential to leach harmful chemicals into your precious liquid gold!

Colostrum has a mild laxative effect which helps your baby pass its first stool called meconium. This means that it can also help in alleviating jaundice where the excess bilirubin is passed through the stool. Haakaa is extremely excited to announce the launch of the first-of-its-kind Silicone Colostrum Collector! These are made of 100% medical grade silicone and collect your droplets of hand-expressed colostrum off your nipple with a gentle vacuum effect. You can also remove the nib and express larger droplets directly into it! It's silent, too. So you can pump even if your little one happens to fall asleep on the boob without having to worry about the whirring of an electric pump awakening your snoozing cherub. It helps your little one adjust to the outside world by regulating their blood sugar levels. This is all connected with other systems such as their temperature control, breathing rate, oxygen levels and metabolism!

Easy Comparison Chart: Haakaa Ladybug Milk Collector VS Haakaa Regular Pump

Slow and steadily roll your fingers towards the nipple. This action is firm; however, it shouldn’t cause pain. Mama, colostrum is something almost magical and is often referred to as ‘liquid gold’ - because it’s honestly worth its weight in gold! So why is this stuff so good, you may ask? Immunoglobulin- an antibody that fights off infections, and illnesses + protects baby against eczema, allergies and wheezing. Recommend from Haakaa.# Clean each colostrum collector before use with hot steam or by boiling in water for 2-3 minutes. Store products in a cool, dry place and avoid direct sunlight. Use all the colostrum in the container for one feed and discard any left over.

What’s Colostrum?# Normally, in the last few weeks of pregnancy, a few drops or a small amount of colostrum will flow out from the mother's nipples. The colostrum is rich in nutrients, high in protein and low in fat, it is easily absorbed by the newborn. Preparing to collect them in advance because it has great benefit for your baby. Remember, breast milk is safe to store at room temperature for up to 4 hours. You need to empty your Ladybugs after 2-3 hours wear and refrigerate your milk in appropriate containers. This change of mind return policy is in addition to, and does not affect your rights under the Australian Consumer Law including any rights you may have in respect of faulty items. To return faulty items see our Returning Faulty Items policy. If you have had a healthy pregnancy and have been given the go-ahead by your caregiver you can start expressing colostrum before birth, usually from the 37th week. There are times when it's not advised , for example, if there were any risks with pre-term labour or other pregnancy complications. This is why it is essential that you seek approval from your healthcare provider before expressing colostrum.

Apart from being the cutest breastfeeding accessory, these little gems are your boobies' best friend. Senior Midwife, author, and international maternity consultant Kathy Fray has found that collecting colostrum can be super helpful, especially for bubs who may need a little extra help after birth. With babies we know could likely be low-birth-weight or babies known to be growth-restricted or at risk of hypoglycaemia, it can be fantastic to already have some frozen colostrum to supplement the vulnerable newborn in their first days of life," says Kathy.