Harvesting colostrum

[Sheep90]

Hi everyone
I've started harvesting colostrum in case baby needs any extra supplementation at birth/ we have any difficulties (I have pregnancy induced hypertension and there's a chance I may need medication before the baby is born)

To those of you who have also harvested colostrum, how many ml did you take into hospital with you? When I've read about people sharing their experiences online, people seem to be referring to numbers of syringes, but it's not always clear how big the syringes are!

Thanks!

[hertsgal]

F

[Anyoed]

Hi yes I was advised to do this by my midwife as I had gegeatinal diabetes. So I was told to freeze them. And take them in frozen to the hospital with me. Where they then looked after them. With the syringes I was given them from the hospital by the midwife. All ways remember to date them. And put ur name. U put them back in the packet so writte the info on packet. Good luck. And it is very handy to have. I ended up needing.mine so was very glad to have them

[ArialAnna]

The midwives told me to get someone to bring them in for you after the birth, as you don't want to risk them being out the fridge too long if you have a long labour. My husband brought in one 2.5 mls, one 3 mls and one 5mls syringe because that's what I had! I didn't start harvesting till a week before the birth.

[HavelockVetinari]

Don't start till 37 weeks! Otherwise it can trigger early labour. My waters went at 36 weeks and I started expressing colostrum straight away, it was fab as I had an EMCS under GA so DS was v sleepy at first at struggled to latch.

[Chocol4te]

Hi all, if you don't mind, how do you do it?

[HavelockVetinari]

Squeeze your breast, and use a plastic syringe (1-5ml) to suck up the colostrum that comes out. You'll only get a tiny amount at first, but it gets easier and you'll produce more each time.

[Paythosebitchesnomind269]

So if you only get tiny amounts do you use the same syringe? Or do you end up with loads of syringes with tiny amounts?