Yet, even when you're still getting organised you can begin lactating and it is recommended that you collect this first breast milk or colostrum.
So, why is it so important and what makes colostrum so special when compared to regular breast milk?
Colostrum is the first breast milk a pregnant person will produce, often called "liquid gold" due to its importance and often golden colour.
It's different from mature milk as when compared, colostrum has a lot of antioxidants and antibodies which can help keep your baby healthy.
It lines your baby's stomach with good bacteria during feeding and also contains compounds that feed the good bacteria and kill harmful bacteria and viruses.
Colostrum's main benefit is to prevent infection and has a laxative effect to encourage your baby's first poo.
Though you may think you need a lot of it to have an effect on your newborn, it's completely normal to collect anything from a few drops to a teaspoon which is more than enough.
For so many reasons, even just for yourself as a new parent, you'll be able to become more familiar with your breasts and how they work as well as feeling more comfortable and confident with hand-expressing milk.
Collecting your colostrum can also be beneficial for your baby if you:
After clearing it with your healthcare provider that you're okay to start the process, you can get to hand expressing this liquid gold with a few steps:
