Breasts Leaking Colostrum During Pregnancy - BabyCenter

You're getting the baby's nursery together – that crib isn't going to make itself! – when you look down and see two wet spots on your shirt. The baby's not even here yet! What gives?

If you're a first-time mom, you may be surprised to know that's not breast milk. It's something called colostrum, and it's totally normal to be leaking a bit. Here's what to know, and when to talk to your healthcare provider about it.

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Key Takeaways

• Colostrum is a high-protein liquid, clear or yellowish and cloudy, that your body produces before milk.
• Your body begins making colostrum in your second trimester, and while it's possible to leak then, it's most common toward the end of your third trimester.
• It's completely normal to leak (or not!) in the weeks before you give birth. Consider using nipple pads so it doesn't get on your clothes.

What is colostrum?

Colostrum is a high-protein, antibody-rich liquid that your body produces for your newborn. Because it's the perfect first food for your baby, people also refer to it as "liquid gold." Colostrum:

• Provides ideal newborn nutrition.
• Protects against infections.
• Is easily digested.
• Has a laxative effect that helps clear meconium from an infant's gastrointestinal tract (which in turn reduces the risk of jaundice).
• Helps establish a healthy gut microbiome.

What does colostrum look like?

iStock

Colostrum looks like a clear, creamy white, yellow, or even orange liquid (orange is due to beta carotene content). It's often thick, though it can be thin, and it's sometimes a little sticky.

“From Colostrum to Breast Milk - 4241” by Amada 44 is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

More mature breast milk is more creamy looking and white or bluish-white in color. Transitional milk comes in in greater quantity around the third or fourth day after giving birth, and milk "matures" around two weeks postpartum.

When do expecting moms start producing milk?

You start producing small amounts of colostrum as early as three or four months into pregnancy. (You may have noticed your breasts becoming bigger before that, as your milk glands increase in number and size.) Sometime in your second trimester, your milk duct system is fully developed, so that you can make milk for your baby even if they arrive early.

Learn more about how your body makes breast milk.

Is it a problem if my breasts leak during pregnancy?

Leaking nipples aren't a problem or unusual during pregnancy. Your body is simply getting ready to feed your baby, and your hormones are at work.

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Until you give birth, the hormones estrogen and progesterone will keep you from actively producing much milk. But at the same time, the hormone prolactin becomes active, especially during the last trimester. Prolactin helps your body produce milk and is responsible if you leak a little colostrum.

Some women leak a few drops of colostrum as early as the second trimester, but it's more common during the final weeks of pregnancy, if at all. If you do leak, you may notice small yellow or orange dots on the inside of your bra.

The leaks can happen at any time, or you may notice your nipples leaking when they're stimulated – during sex, for example, or if they've rubbed against your bra while exercising or walking.

Tell your provider if:

• You're leaking more than a few drops of colostrum at a time, or there's a sudden increase in the amount you're leaking.
• There's blood in the colostrum.

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Want to track changes like breast growth, leaking, and other pregnancy symptoms? The BabyCenter appOpens a new window has a symptom tracker that helps you log what’s happening week by week.

Should I save the leaked colostrum?

If colostrum is "liquid gold," should you be saving every little bit that drips out? The long and short of it is that if it's coming out anyway, sure. There's no harm in collecting what's dripping to freeze and feed to your newborn later.

"Mine started [leaking] towards the end of my 30th week," one BabyCenter Community mom shares. "I'm 32 weeks now and I was looking at an ultrasound of our girl, and colostrum started pouring everywhere! I had time to run and catch it and freeze it."

Is it okay if I don't leak colostrum?

Don't worry if you don't leak any colostrum. That's perfectly normal, too, and your baby will be able to get the colostrum when they breastfeed.

"Throughout the pregnancy, I didn't have any changes to my breasts," explaines one BabyCenter mom. "They weren't bigger, tender, and nothing came out before labor… As soon as my son came out, I put him in contact with my breast and the colostrum came out right away."

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If you're curious, you can probably hand express a little colostrum in your third trimester. While most lactation experts say it's safe to do so, some studies have suggested a possible association with preterm labor or mastitis. To be safe, don't express if you have any risk factors for preterm labor. And don't try until you're at least 37 weeks pregnant.

How to cope with breasts leaking during pregnancy

Breast leaks during pregnancy are usually very minor and easy to handle. If they bother you, though, you can tuck nursing pads inside your bra, and avoid nipple stimulation.

Rest assured that if your breasts are leaking during pregnancy, it's a sign that your body is doing exactly what's necessary to get ready for your baby's arrival.