You can usually start hand-expressing colostrum in late pregnancy, but timing and safety matter and you should always clear it with your midwife or doctor first.

When your body makes colostrum

  • Your breasts typically start producing colostrum around 12–20 weeks of pregnancy, even though you often can’t see or feel it.
  • Some people notice spontaneous leaking from around 28 weeks, while others only see colostrum after birth, and both patterns are normal.

When you can start expressing in pregnancy

Most official guidance for planned antenatal expressing (sometimes called “colostrum harvesting”) recommends waiting until the last few weeks of pregnancy, unless your own team advises differently.

  • Many hospital and public health leaflets suggest starting hand-expression from about 36 weeks of pregnancy.
  • Some services advise not before 37 weeks , because nipple stimulation can occasionally trigger contractions and could, in theory, contribute to preterm labour.
  • If your birth is expected earlier than 37 weeks or you have pregnancy complications, you should ask your midwife/obstetrician to help you decide when (or whether) to start.

A common real-world pattern from forum discussions is: “My midwife cleared me to start around 36–38 weeks, unless I had signs of labour or risk factors.”

Is it safe to express colostrum before birth?

Antenatal expressing is usually considered safe in low‑risk pregnancies once you’re near term , but it is not automatically right for everyone.

  • Hand‑expressing stimulates the nipples, which can release oxytocin and may cause uterine tightenings or contractions in some people.
  • That’s why most guidance says: start after 36 weeks, stop if you notice contractions or vaginal bleeding, and talk to your care team if anything feels off.
  • It may be especially discussed for parents with conditions like diabetes, risk of baby needing extra feeds, or previous low milk supply, where having a small frozen store of colostrum can be helpful after birth.

How expressing colostrum usually looks

If your provider has said it’s okay to start:

  1. Choose a time from about 36–37 weeks onward (or the week they suggest).
  1. Use hand expression only , not a pump, because colostrum is thick and produced in small amounts.
  1. Gently massage and compress the breast toward the nipple in a rhythmic pattern to collect drops into a clean syringe or small container.
  1. Sessions are often short (for example, a few minutes per side, once or twice a day), and any amount you collect is useful.
  1. The colostrum can then be labelled, frozen, and taken with you when you go in for the birth, if your unit supports this practice.

Quick Scoop (SEO-style summary)

  • The phrase “when can you start expressing colostrum” usually refers to antenatal (before-birth) hand expression, not normal breastfeeding after birth.
  • Your body makes colostrum from mid‑pregnancy, but most people don’t need to do anything special; baby gets it directly after birth.
  • For those who are advised to collect it in advance, current guidance from hospitals and national pregnancy sites often suggests starting around 36 weeks , sometimes no earlier than 37 weeks , and only after talking with your own clinician.

Always check with your midwife, obstetrician, or lactation consultant before starting antenatal expressing, especially if you have any risk factors, contractions, or a history of preterm labour.

TL;DR: Your body starts making colostrum in mid‑pregnancy, but for safety reasons most experts recommend only starting to hand‑express it from about 36–37 weeks, and only with your own provider’s go‑ahead.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.