Does Leaking Colostrum Mean Labor is Close or There’s Another Reason?

You have made it through your pregnancy and can see the finish line in your sights. You are ready to meet your precious baby and are looking for any sign that your labor is imminent. Your boobs are sore and have suddenly started leaking colostrum – but does leaking colostrum mean labor is close? Read on to find out all you need to know.

Does Leaking Colostrum Mean Labor is Close – Breasts During Pregnancy What to Expect

Colostrum otherwise known as ‘liquid gold’ can be produced as early as your second trimester. This may sound early to you and as your body continues to house your growing bub it can be a reminder that in the not so distant future you will be holding your precious baby in your arms. However, leaking colostrum certainly doesn’t mean your labor is close. It is just another lovely sign that your body is preparing for your new arrival.

What is Colostrum?

Colostrum is the liquid that your breasts produce before your actual breast milk comes in. It is usually a milky, sticky liquid with no odor. It is so full and packed with antibodies and nutrients that your little bundle will only need a few teaspoons to give them everything that they need in those first few days. 

This ‘liquid gold’ is so precious and important for our babies that many of us start thinking ‘can leaking colostrum be a sign of labor?’

The answer to this question is no. Leaking breasts is common for most pregnant women but it does not happen to every woman. Leaking colostrum can usually happen in the second trimester right the way up to days before your milk production starts.

The American Academy Of Pediatrics states that “ Your body will produce colostrum for a few days after delivery of your baby.” 

Again it is important to remember that all women experience different symptoms. Personally I found that my sickness lasted until 28 weeks and yet my sister didn’t even have so much as a little nausea! 

Is Leaking Colostrum a Sign of Labor?

Let’s be frank here, many moms glow in their pregnancy. Lush hair, perfect skin, and other moms can have a harder time with sickness and leaking nipples! It is important to remember that every pregnancy is different and many signs and symptoms are not experienced by every pregnant woman.

When I was pregnant I got excited yet nervous when I noticed leakage from the boob area. I immediately started thinking that this was the start of the end of my pregnancy and whilst I wasn’t completely wrong it became apparent that this too was another sign that my body was just preparing for feeding my newborn. 

Why Do My Breasts Leak?

We now know that leaking colostrum in pregnancy is normal and in fact an amazing way to feed your baby but with little bub still tucked safely inside your belly, you could begin to wonder why your body is producing colostrum so early. Especially as it doesn’t mean imminent labor. In fact, your breasts will experience no symptoms when your labor starts! 

You may be wondering if there are things that can encourage the flow of colostrum. Well, there are a few things that certainly can help such as:

• Nipple stimulation.
• The water and heat from a shower can affect your breasts. 
• Having sex. 

We can thank or blame depending on your mood, the wonderful hormone prolactin.  Its main responsibility is for milk production once you have birthed your baby. However, during your pregnancy, your hormones are all over the place and prolactin can start its engine revving toward your third trimester.

All your hormones are on point by this stage in your pregnancy. They have to be in unison with each other from the start of labor to giving that first feed.

Preterm Labor

If you notice a great deal of leakage, meaning there are more than just a few drops, there is discharge from your nipples that is not normal, or you have blood in your colostrum then it would be a good idea to seek advice from your doctor.

If you are concerned about preterm labor then you must seek advice from your OBGYN especially if you have any of the following symptoms.

The signs of premature labor include:

• Decreased fetal movement – is extremely important to recognize in all stages of pregnancy!
• Regular contractions that increase in intensity.
• Vaginal discharge or bleeding.
• Back pain
• Pressure in your vagina

As you can see these are the most common signs of preterm labor not all of these symptoms may be present but if you have any concerns then check with your doctor. 

Now we know some of the signs of preterm labor and how wonderful and amazing Colostrum is, you may feel like leaking early before the birth is wasteful. This is why we are going to look at harvesting Colostrum next!

Harvesting Colostrum

Before having my second child I never knew that this was even possible (I didn’t leak on my first). During my second pregnancy, I knew that I wanted to give breast feeding a go and researched that hand expressing and harvesting the colostrum can help for those first few days especially if you have to stay in the hospital. 

It is advised that you should only begin the harvesting process after 37 weeks and you must always consult your OBGYN to ensure that your pregnancy is risk-free. 

Hand expressing is an amazing way to collect all of those tiny little droplets of goodness.

Check out our top tips on how to hand express:

• Wash your hands and ensure the area around your nipple is clean.
• With your hand gently massage your breast to encourage the flow.
• With your forefinger and thumb use a gentle squeeze and pull motion to establish the flow of the colostrum.
• It won’t spurt out as if you are milking a cow but it will drop out slowly so ensure you have a small container or Hakka to collect.
• Once you feel you have had enough out (usually aim for 5 min sessions).
• You can store the Colostrum in medical syringes. I used 1ml syringes and then upped them to 2ml.

Ensure that when storing the syringes you clearly label your name and date collected on them then store them in the freezer. That way you know to use the oldest first. 

Leaking during pregnancy doesn’t have to be an inconvenience, you can use it to your advantage and harvest it. 

This soon became a great routine for me and I was lucky that I was able to collect quite a bit of colostrum during my pregnancy. If you feel like you are not leaking enough then you can try expressing. 

Please don’t feel like this is something you have to do. Some women don’t feel comfortable especially with a big bump in the way but it is a useful option to think about if you don’t want to waste the colostrum. 

What Else Can I Do?

If harvesting doesn’t sound like an option you wish to try then there are other options.

The good news is that during your second – third trimester you will only leak small amounts. Check the inside of your bra if you’re unsure. If you find yellowish staining then you may wish to pop in a breast pad to soak it up. 

You can buy reusable breast pads or disposable ones at the store and both will do the job well. If you haven’t swapped already then wearing maternity bras at this point can also help if you are leaking. Many maternity bras are equipped with easy fasteners so you can change without a fuss.

FAQs

How soon before labor do your nipples leak?

You can start producing Colostrum as early as four months into your pregnancy. This does not mean that you are at risk of pre-term labor but that your body is preparing itself for milk production.

What are the signs that labor is approaching?

The following signs signify when a mom’s labor has started. The truth is many moms say they know the difference between the real deal and false labor.

• Bloody show.
• Belly and lower back pain.
• Water breaking.
• Baby drops.
• Cramps and increased back pain.
• Loose-feeling joints.
• Strong, frequent contractions.

Should you express colostrum before birth?

Expressing manually or with a pump can decrease the need for formula feeding when in hospital. If you are hoping to exclusively breastfeed then hand expressing can assist in your milk supply.

Can I pump before the baby is born?

If you are feeling engorged and hand expressing isn’t helping then you can use an electric pump providing you have a healthy and normal pregnancy. 

Does leaking breasts during pregnancy mean good milk supply?

Leaking breasts isn’t usually an indicator of a good milk supply but it means that your body is reacting to the release of prolactin your body needs to start producing milk after birth. 

How much colostrum should I express the first time?

Before birth, you will only need to express for around 5 minutes per day three times a day. You won’t have an enormous amount of colostrum but you will have more than enough for your baby’s first feed. 

Conclusion

So our final thoughts on the question does leaking colostrum mean labor is soon? The answer is no! Rest up those tired swollen feet momma, your baby is sitting comfortably in his/her water home for a bit yet.  Leaking breasts go hand in hand with body aches, exhaustion, and sickness.

Leaking Colostrum may not indicate that labor is imminent but it does signify that you’re heading toward the finish line in a few weeks or months which is exciting! 

If you have decided that you are going to give harvesting a go have a chat with your healthcare provider for their advice and guidance. If not then you can soak up the droplets and wait for your baby to arrive. 

If you feel that you are leaking an abnormal amount then please always consult your doctor. When leaking toward the end of your pregnancy there should be no discharge or blood present if you find that there is then it could be a sign of infection so you must seek medical advice immediately. 

More to read:

• How to Clean Out Your Unborn Baby’s System- All You Need to Know!
• Is it Bad to Squeeze Your Breast During Pregnancy- What To Expect?
• How To Sleep Comfortably With Engorged Breasts: 6 Super Ways!
• Why Does My Pregnant Belly Look Smaller Some Days? – Should I Worry?