Colostrum harvesting

[JellyBert]

Did anybody do this before baby was born? I'm 36 weeks today and I've just pumped (as was getting nowhere with hand expressing) managed to get 5x 2.5ml syringes!
Just wondering how much of a stash I should try & build up? I struggled massively bf my daughter & im so determined to not formula feed this time (not bashing formula, she was fed formula pretty much from day 2 & is a happy & healthy toddler but I really want to breastfeed this time round)

[AssassinatedBeauty]

How does colostrum collecting help with establishing breastfeeding?

[ShuttyTown]

I did this. colostrum can be frozen for up to 6 months so collect as much as you can. I knew I probably wasn't going to be able to BF so I collected as much as I could by hand expressing beforehand. Can't say it helped with anything like my milk coming in quicker or being able to establish BF however but felt good to be able to give my DD loads of colostrum

[Sugarcoma]

Hello i also started harvesting colostrum at 36 weeks. DS was born at 37 so I didn't manage to get much but it was great to be able to give it to him day 1 when he wouldn't bf. I think somehow it did help with my supply because he actually wouldn't bf for about 6 weeks during which time I Pumped and have him some formula before eventually being able to move to EBF when he finally got the hang of it.

I collected it in 1ml syringes and froze them in sandwich bags with the date labeled.

I did it by hand tho - didn't occur to me to pump it!

After he was born it was fascinating watching it slowly go from colostrum to actually milk.

[JellyBert]

Assassinated well it doesn't, apart from boost my confidence that I have it there to give to him so I don't need to resort to formula while I work on our latch. Hoping it will buy me time & I will be more reassured knowing it's there if needed.

Thanks! I'm shocked at how watery mine is when it says it's usually thick but I suppose everyone is different! I'm hoping I won't actually need to use it but great to have as a backup & it doesn't seem too testing for me so can just try once a day to see if I continue to get it.

[Lucinda15]

I did this due to gestational diabetets (advised to harvest colostrum to give to baby as top up after birth incase their blood sugars are low due to effects of gestational diabetes). I only really harvested 1ml a day but could have done more, although was advised by midwives to only harvest for 10 mins 3 times a day as can cause contractions so be careful.

Her blood sugars were fine, so didn't need it for that reason but It was very helpful satisfying her hunger in those first few days while we waited for milk to come in. She fed round the clock and was always hungry so it was useful to be able to give her a syringe or two to satisfy her and give me a break now and then. It definitely eased the pressure as after two babies, I definitely find those first few days waiting for milk while ur trying to feed a hungry baby to be a hard wait!! X