Key Takeaways
- Choose a collector that handles small droplets, closes securely and meets your maternity hospital’s requirements.
- Haakaa Malaysia offers 4ml collectors in single, twin and six-piece packs, with different upfront and per-collector costs.
- Antenatal collection should begin only when your maternity team agrees it is suitable, commonly around 36 to 37 weeks.
- Reusable silicone is an option, while suitable sterile plastic syringes remain a valid hospital-recommended choice.
- Collecting only a few drops before birth does not mean you will have a low milk supply afterwards.
The best silicone colostrum collector is one you can handle comfortably, clean correctly and bring to your chosen maternity hospital. Within Haakaa Malaysia’s range, the 4ml single, twin and six-piece packs suit different budgets. The single pack has the lowest upfront cost, while the six-piece pack has the lowest listed cost per collector.
Colostrum is the first milk produced during pregnancy and the early days after birth.
If you are comparing breast pump malaysia options while preparing for birth, keep colostrum collection on a separate checklist. Antenatal colostrum is usually hand expressed in tiny amounts, rather than collected with a breast pump.
Filling every container is not a test you need to pass.
Which Silicone Colostrum Collector Pack Should You Choose?
Start with the pack size you will realistically use, rather than buying the largest set automatically.
This guide compares three pack sizes of our Haakaa 4ml collector using published specifications and costs. It is not a clinical comparison or hands-on review.
| Haakaa Pack | Capacity Per Collector | Listed Price | Cost Per Collector | Best Suited To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single: 1 collector | 4ml | RM25 | RM25 | Lowest upfront spending |
| Twin: 2 collectors | 4ml | RM45 | RM22.50 | A small starter set |
| Six-piece: 6 collectors | 4ml | RM108 | RM18 | Lower unit cost and more separate containers |

Prices checked on 3 November 2026, excluding delivery. Prices and availability may change. Unit costs are calculated by dividing the listed price by the number of collectors.
Single Pack: Best for Keeping Initial Spending Low
The single pack is a sensible starting point if your maternity team has approved collection but you are unsure how much equipment you need.
Remember that a collector holding frozen colostrum is unavailable for another collection until it has been emptied and properly cleaned.
Twin Pack: Best for a Small Starter Set
At the listed prices, the twin pack costs RM5 less than two singles. It may suit mums who want a spare container but prefer to keep their hospital-bag preparation modest.
Six-Piece Pack: Best for Lower Cost Per Collector
The six-piece set includes a clear storage case and cotton wipe alongside the collectors and record stickers.
Its RM18 unit cost is 28% lower than the single collector’s RM25 price. That is useful value if you need several containers, although buying fewer remains cheaper overall when your needs are limited.
A storage case helps organise equipment; it does not keep colostrum cold or replace proper cleaning.
What Features Matter in a Colostrum Collector?
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Small-volume handling, secure closure and clear care instructions matter more than a long feature list.
When choosing a colostrum collector, check these practical details:
- Collection method: A design that lets you collect small droplets without awkward transfers.
- Visible markings: Useful for recording amounts, without treating the container’s capacity as a collection target.
- Secure closure: Important for storing and transporting small quantities.
- Material and care instructions: Clear information about washing, sterilising, refrigeration and freezing.
- Labelling space: Enough room for the identifying details your hospital requires.
The Haakaa Silicone Colostrum Collector Set uses a soft, squeezable body and removable nib. You can gently draw expressed droplets through the nib, or remove it to collect directly into the body.
This collects milk you have expressed; it is not a breast pump and should not be used to pull firmly on the nipple.
Are Silicone Colostrum Collectors Safer Than Plastic Syringes?
Silicone is a reusable option, but material alone does not establish which container is safest.
Haakaa describes its collectors as medical-grade silicone. That material specification does not mean every maternity unit will accept the product, or that suitable plastic feeding syringes are unsafe.
Cambridge University Hospitals advises using a sterile 1ml syringe as an appropriate option for the small quantities expected during antenatal collection.
Ask your Malaysian maternity hospital whether it accepts reusable collectors or prefers its own sterile oral feeding syringes. This matters more than choosing equipment based on a broad claim that all plastic is harmful.
A 4ml collector does not need to be full to be useful.
When Can Expecting Mothers Start Collecting Colostrum?
Speak to your obstetrician or midwife before starting, even if you already have the equipment.
NHS maternity guidance commonly discusses starting around 36 to 37 weeks, with the exact timing depending on the pregnancy and local protocol. South Tees Hospitals, for example, recommends starting no sooner than 37 weeks unless the maternity team advises otherwise.
The DAME trial recruited 635 women with diabetes in pregnancy and compared hand expression from 36 weeks with standard care. It found no evidence of harm in selected women at low risk of complications. Those findings do not apply automatically to every pregnancy or prove one collector is better.
Tell your maternity team about any history of preterm labour, bleeding, a low-lying placenta or a cervical stitch. If expressing causes contractions, pain or bleeding, stop and contact your maternity team for advice.
How Do You Use and Clean a Silicone Collector?
Learn hand expression first, then use the collector to catch the droplets.
Once your maternity team has approved collection:
- Wash your hands and prepare the collector according to its instructions.
- Use the hand-expression technique your midwife has shown you.
- Collect the droplets gently through the nib or directly into the open collector body.
- Close securely and label the container with the date, time and required identification.
- Store the colostrum promptly according to your maternity team’s guidance.
Haakaa’s instructions allow steam sterilising or boiling for 2 to 3 minutes. Follow the instructions supplied with your exact product, including preparation of any pre-sterilised packs. Wash before sterilising used equipment, and inspect it for damage.
Do not use bleach-based cleaners on this collector. Its nib is no longer sterile after contact with a baby’s mouth, so it needs appropriate cleaning and sterilising before reuse. Ask your midwife to demonstrate feeding rather than squeezing milk forcefully into your baby’s mouth.
Can You Freeze Colostrum in a Silicone Collector?
Haakaa’s collectors are suitable for fridge and freezer storage when used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
For antenatal storage, your maternity team may advise freezing collected colostrum until delivery. NHS guidance includes using a freezer at -18°C, with labelled containers protected inside a clean, resealable bag.
Before your due date, confirm:
- Whether your hospital accepts your chosen containers.
- What identification each label needs.
- How much frozen colostrum to bring.
- Its storage and thawing limits, which may differ from home guidance.
Transport frozen collections in an insulated cool bag with frozen ice packs, and tell staff as soon as you arrive. Do not refreeze fully thawed colostrum or microwave it.
In Malaysia’s heat, plan the journey and cooling supplies in advance. A tidy storage case alone does not provide temperature control.

Which Option Is Best for Your Hospital Bag?
The best silicone colostrum collectors combine manageable small-volume collection with care instructions you can follow. Balance upfront spending against how many separate containers you need.
At Haakaa Malaysia, we offer practical collection options to support your birth preparation. Confirm your maternity team’s requirements, then choose the pack that fits your plan without feeling pressured to collect a particular amount.
General information only. Ask your obstetrician, midwife or lactation professional for advice suited to your pregnancy and baby.
Sources
- Haakaa Malaysia: Silicone Colostrum Collector Set, 4ml. Pack contents and listed Malaysian prices. 4ml
- Haakaa: Silicone Colostrum Collector Set. Materials, collection methods and cleaning instructions. Haakaa
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: Antenatal Hand Expression. Covers appropriate equipment, pregnancy precautions and hand expression. CUH
- South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: Expressing Colostrum During Pregnancy. Covers collection timing and transport. South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Forster and colleagues, The Lancet, 2017: Diabetes and Antenatal Milk Expressing trial. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- NHS Healthier Together: Collecting Colostrum (First Milk) for Your Baby. Covers labelling, freezing and hospital transport. stw-healthiertogether.nhs.uk
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust: Antenatal Hand Expressing. Explains why not collecting colostrum before birth does not mean breastfeeding will be unsuccessful. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Frequently Asked Questions
What Size Colostrum Collector Should I Buy?
Haakaa’s Malaysian range uses 4ml collectors. Some hospitals recommend sterile 1ml oral feeding syringes for initial droplets. Choose what your hospital accepts; a larger capacity is not a target you need to fill.
How Many Colostrum Collectors Do I Need?
There is no universal number. Consider your maternity team’s plan and how many containers may be occupied by stored milk. Start small unless you need several separately labelled collections.
Can I Reuse a Silicone Colostrum Collector?
Yes, if the manufacturer permits reuse and you follow its washing and sterilising instructions. Inspect for damage and replace worn components. Confirm hospital acceptance, and do not reuse syringes or containers labelled for single use.
Can I Use a Breast Pump to Collect Colostrum Before Birth?
Hand expression is the recommended antenatal method in the NHS guidance used here. A collector catches the expressed droplets; it does not replace the hand-expression technique. Discuss when and how to start with your maternity team.
Does Collecting Very Little Mean I Will Have Low Milk Supply?
No. Producing only droplets, or being unable to collect colostrum before birth, does not reliably predict your milk supply afterwards. Ask your midwife for help with technique, and avoid increasing suction or expressing for longer simply to fill a container.
Can I Bring Frozen Colostrum to a Malaysian Hospital?
Check with your chosen hospital first. Ask about accepted containers, labels, quantities and storage arrangements. If accepted, transport frozen colostrum in an insulated cool bag with frozen ice packs and inform the maternity team immediately on arrival.