breastfeeding · Colostrum · Hand Expression · Milk Storage · Newborn Feeding · Postpartum · Pregnancy · Oct 15, 2026

How to Collect Colostrum: Before Birth vs. After Birth

Cubtale colostrum collectors and storage case arranged on a soft neutral surface.

Wondering how to collect those first little drops of colostrum? Hand expression means gently using your hands to release milk into a suitable clean container or sterile, needle-free collector.

If you’re pregnant, check with your OB-GYN or midwife before you begin. If your baby is already here, your maternity or lactation team can show you how the collection fits into your feeding plan.

There’s a lot to take in when you’re getting ready for a baby. Let’s walk through collecting before and after birth.

Quick answer: Collect colostrum by gently expressing milk by hand into a suitable container. Before birth, get your pregnancy care team’s go-ahead; collection is optional. After birth, follow your baby’s feeding plan. Store collected milk according to your collector’s instructions and your care team’s guidance.

Before or After Birth? Here’s the Difference..

Question	During Pregnancy	After Birth
Why collect?	An optional reserve if your baby needs extra milk after delivery.	To provide expressed milk when your feeding team recommends it, including when feeding at the breast is difficult.
When to begin?	Only after your pregnancy care team confirms it is appropriate. Guidance commonly discusses starting around 36–37 weeks, depending on the individual pregnancy and local protocol.	Ask your maternity or lactation team when to start and how often to express for your situation.
How?	Hand expression; antenatal guidance advises against using a breast pump.	Hand expression can be useful; your care team may also recommend pumping.
What to collect into?	A sterile, needle-free collection container approved for your plan. The Cubtale Colostrum Collector is freezer-safe.	A suitable collector, such as the freezer-safe Cubtale Colostrum Collector, following your hospital’s instructions.
How to store it?	Follow the agreed collection, freezing, labeling, and hospital transport plan.	Follow home storage guidance or your hospital's instructions, depending on where the milk will be used.

Do You Need to Collect Colostrum Before Birth?

No. You can leave this off your preparation list. Collecting colostrum during pregnancy is optional, and you don’t need a freezer stash to get started with breastfeeding.

Some families discuss it with their care team because their baby may need extra milk after delivery, particularly when diabetes in pregnancy increases the risk of low blood sugar. Stored colostrum is a helpful extra, not a replacement for your baby’s medical care.

Not sure where to start? Bring these questions to your next appointment:

Is collecting colostrum before birth right for my pregnancy?
When should I start, and what session length and frequency do you recommend?
What symptoms mean I should stop and call?
Does my birth hospital accept milk collected at home, and what are its storage and labeling requirements?

Premature-labor risk, cervical conditions, bleeding, or placental concerns can change the advice. Stop expressing if contractions occur and contact your maternity team if they continue.

What Does the Research Tell Us?

The DAME randomized trial enrolled 635 women with diabetes in pregnancy in Australia. Participants assigned to expression began at 36 weeks. NICU admissions were 46 of 317 babies (15%) in the expression group and 44 of 315 (14%) in standard care; the trial did not find a difference in its primary outcome.

These results help care teams talk about collecting colostrum with women who have diabetes and a low risk of complications. They don’t mean everyone needs to collect colostrum, or that collecting it prevents a NICU stay.

Collecting Colostrum After Your Baby Arrives

Your baby is here, and you’re learning together. You can ask for help with hand expression even if you didn’t collect any colostrum during pregnancy.

If feeding at the breast is going well, you may not need a separate collection routine. If your baby is having trouble latching, needs extra feeds, or is apart from you, your maternity or lactation team can help you decide how expressed milk fits into the plan.

Before you head home, ask your team to:

Show you how to hand express and collect the drops comfortably.
Explain when and how often to express, and whether a pump would be useful.
Show you how to give expressed milk to your baby using the feeding method they recommend.
Explain which storage instructions apply, especially if your baby was born early or needs hospital care.

If expressing hurts or you’re worried about feeding, let your team know. You don’t have to figure it all out on your own.

How to Collect Colostrum by Hand

A demonstration can make this feel much less fiddly, so ask a lactation professional to show you. If you’re pregnant, follow your clinician’s advice about when to begin and how long to express.

Wash your hands. Set out your collection container or syringe before beginning.
Get comfy. Find a comfortable seat. Gentle breast massage or a warm compress may help milk flow.
Make a C shape. Place your thumb above the nipple and fingers below it, approximately 1-2 inches behind the nipple. Adjust your position to find what works comfortably.
Press back, compress, then release. Move gently toward the chest, bring your thumb and fingers together, then relax. Repeat rhythmically without dragging across the skin.
Collect the drops. Let them fall into your container, or use a suitable collector, such as the Cubtale Colostrum Collector, following the technique your care team has shown you.
Adjust your hand position. Try another area of the breast and switch sides as appropriate for your plan.

Keep it gentle. Hand expression shouldn’t hurt. Avoid pulling on your nipple or squeezing hard; ask for help if it feels uncomfortable.

Only a Few Drops? None? You’re Not Falling Behind..

You don’t have a collection goal to meet before birth. If you can’t express colostrum during pregnancy, that doesn’t mean you won’t make milk after your baby arrives.

This is a skill you can learn with support and practice. After birth, ask your feeding team for help if expressing hurts or you’re worried about how much milk your baby is getting.

Choosing a Colostrum Collector

When you’re working with tiny drops, having a suitable place to collect them can help keep things simple. Here’s what to look for:

Whether it is intended for collecting human milk.
Whether it is supplied sterile, and what the instructions say about cleaning or reuse.
Whether its markings make small quantities easy to read.
Whether it is approved for freezing and compatible with your hospital's requirements.
How its cap and other small parts should be handled.

The Cubtale Colostrum Collector is freezer-safe and includes pre-sterilized silicone collectors, a collection flange, and caps. Follow the supplied instructions for filling, freezing, and thawing, and check your hospital’s requirements before bringing collected milk with you.

Cubtale colostrum collectors with six numbered collectors and a storage case.

Keep syringe caps and other small parts away from babies and children. Before using a syringe to feed your baby, have your maternity or lactation team show you the appropriate technique.

How to Store Collected Colostrum

Label each container with the expression date and any additional details your hospital requests. The Cubtale Colostrum Collector can be stored in the freezer; follow its supplied instructions and your care team’s milk-storage guidance. Ask your hospital about its policy before transporting milk.

Using the Cubtale Colostrum Collector? Pair the box with the Cubtale app once, then simply log the amount you collect. The app automatically records the timestamp and matches each amount to its collector number with no need to add a QR label or enter those details yourself. You can scan the collector’s QR code to see its saved details.

For expressed human milk stored at home for a healthy, full-term infant, CDC guidance includes:

Condition	CDC Home-Storage Guidance
Fresh milk at room temperature	Up to 4 hours
Fresh milk in the refrigerator	Up to 4 days
Milk in the freezer	About 6 months is best; up to 12 months is acceptable
Previously frozen milk thawed in the refrigerator	Use within 24 hours after it is completely thawed
Milk brought to room temperature or warmed	Use within 2 hours

Do not microwave milk or refreeze it after thawing. For more storage, freezing, and thawing tips, see our breast milk storage guide.

Your hospital may have different (and stricter) rules, especially for babies born early or milk collected during pregnancy. Check your own collection and feeding plan before using this home-storage table.

A Little Preparation, At Your Own Pace

Start with a conversation, then take it one step at a time. Your care team can help you decide whether to collect during pregnancy or show you how after birth. You don’t need a big stash or a perfect first try to start learning.

Colostrum Collection FAQ

Can I use a breast pump to collect colostrum?

During pregnancy, antenatal guidance recommends hand expression rather than a pump. After birth, your lactation team can help you decide whether hand expression, pumping, or both fit your feeding plan.

Will collecting before birth use up my baby’s colostrum?

No. Colostrum doesn’t run out because you collected some during pregnancy. Your body continues making milk. You can also skip antenatal collection altogether; it’s optional.

Can I freeze milk in the Cubtale Colostrum Collector?

Yes, the Cubtale Colostrum Collector is freezer-safe. Follow the supplied filling and freezing instructions, plus the milk-storage guidance for your baby. Hospital rules may differ from home-storage guidance.

How do I thaw collected colostrum?

Follow your collector’s instructions. CDC guidance describes thawing expressed milk in the refrigerator or in warm or lukewarm water. Never microwave it or refreeze thawed milk. For hospital use, follow your care team’s thawing and use-by instructions.

Can I reuse my collector?

Check the instructions supplied with your specific collector for cleaning, sterilizing, and reuse. Being pre-sterilized tells you about its condition when supplied; it doesn’t replace the handling instructions.

Do I need to enter the date and collector number in Cubtale?

Once you’ve paired the collector box with the app, just log the amount. Cubtale automatically records the timestamp and maps the amount to the collector number. Scan the collector’s QR code to view its details; check separately for any hospital labeling requirements.