The average colostrum intake by healthy babies increases from 2-10 mL per feeding in the first 24 hours to 30-60 mL (1-2 oz) per feed by the end of day 3 (ABM 2009).
The volume of colostrum you will produce varies. It is generally between 2ml and 20ml (millilitres) per breastfeed in the first 3 days. It also depends on the number of breastfeeds your baby has in the first 24 hours after birth.
This is because colostrum exists in such a low volume (even 5 to 7 milliliters of colostrum is good nutrition for a little one) and is a slow-moving liquid, Syms-Brown explains. "Babies' stomachs are so small and therefore don't require a large volume to satisfy them."
You will make small quantities at first, often less than a millilitre at each feed or expression, and this volume of colostrum is usually adequate for the needs of a healthy baby born at term. It can be almost transparent, or within the range of light to deep yellow in colour.
Typically, though, it's around 30 milliliters or about an ounce a day, which is right around the amount that your baby needs.
Antenatally, you'll only need to express for three to five minutes – just until you have a few drops of colostrum. It may not seem very much, but a baby's first feed is no more than a teaspoon of colostrum. By expressing up to three times in a day, you can express enough for a feed.
In the first week after birth, babies should be eating no more than about 1 to 2 ounces (30 to 60 ml) per feed. During the first month, babies gradually eat more until they take 3 to 4 ounces (90 to 120 ml) per feed, amounting to 32 ounces per day.
In the early days colostrum provides your baby with antibacterial fighting properties which help keep infections at bay. It is highly concentrated in a small volume as a baby's tummy can only take about 5 – 7 mls in the first couple of days.
Using the 1,2,3 rule:
Use the first milk (colostrum) from the cow; Feed the calf colostrum within the first two hours of birth; Calves must be offered at least 3L of good quality colostrum.
They only need about an ounce of colostrum per day. This equals about a teaspoon each feeding (you can expect to feed your newborn eight to 10 times the first few days). The amount of colostrum (and then transitional milk) your baby needs increases slowly each day as their stomach expands.
In the first 24 hours (day 0-1), a healthy term baby needs around 5-7ml colostrum in total so 0.3ml could be a good feed if feeding frequently.
We recommend collecting colostrum in small syringes (1-2ml) so that small top-up feeds can be defrosted as and when needed to avoid any wastage of defrosted colostrum.
The International Milk League and Alba Lactancia Materna mention that if you can mix breast milk from other days or sessions. As long as both milks are at the same temperature and that the mixture is used within 24 hours.
Place containers in a snap lock plastic bag. Wrap (e.g. in clean tea towel), and place with ice bricks in a hard cooler (e.g. esky) avoiding air gaps. Please bring between 5 and 40 ml of expressed colostrum to hospital. If you have more than this, it can be brough from home at a later date if required.
In the first few days after birth, pump at least 10 to 15 minutes per breast. As you produce more milk, watch for it to slow down or stop. Then restart the pump to trigger another milk release and pump for another few minutes.
Typically, though, it's around 30 milliliters or about an ounce a day, which is right around the amount that your baby needs. But don't worry if you're producing less than this amount—any amount is good for your baby.
Use a new 1ml pre-sterilised syringe at each feed. Hold the baby slightly upright • Encourage the baby to suckle on a gloved finger to encourage to suck/swallow reflex • Gently and slowly syringe a small amount of EBM (no more than 0.2 mls) into the side of the baby's mouth between their gums and cheek.
You can start by offering your baby 1 to 2 ounces of infant formula every 2 to 3 hours in the first days of life if your baby is only getting infant formula and no breast milk. Give your baby more if he or she is showing signs of hunger. Most infant formula-fed newborns will feed 8 to 12 times in 24 hours.
Q: Can you overfeed a newborn baby? A: Yes, but it is not likely to happen. Newborn babies have an innate ability to regulate their hunger and therefore stop eating when they are full.
Can you use a Haakaa to collect colostrum ? A lot of our Milkbar community have found that the Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump works really well to express colostrum. Simply suction it on and use the gentle suction to help the colostrum move out of the breast. Then transfer to your colostrum syringes.
It won't increase your natural colostrum supplies, but it will help you build a supply of expressed colostrum in the freezer. This way you'll always have a backup on hand. Some women have real issues with low milk supply — of both colostrum and later on, breastmilk.
Syringe feeding can be used when you need to give your baby small amounts of colostrum or expressed breast milk (less than 5ml at a time). This is usually during the first couple of days after your baby's birth. Use a small, sterile syringe and place no more than 0.2ml into your baby's mouth at a time.
Most babies do not burp a lot when they are drinking colostrum the first few days, however, still burp them for a minute or two. If you don't get one, no big deal. Start all feedings with a burping session. They usually will give you one and this also helps to arouse them and be more eager to latch.