Breastfeeding question

[Mamato29192]

2 weeks tomorrow I'll be able to collect colostrum. I've been given syringes. I'm just wondering would I be able to use my pump to get it? Would it be safe to. Considering I won't be far off full term.

I have no clue about this as with my first I never got any colostrum until I had him.

Tia 😊

It could work but expect it would be pretty sore.

Yeah I was thinking that. I wouldn't do it all the time. I'd massage mostly to get it.

It's not recommended to pump before birth as it might trigger labour, also would definitely be a bit sore.
You'd be better off hand expressing with the syringes, you won't get a lot but you don't need a lot. If you ask your midwife they can show you the best way 😊

No, you should only hand express before birth. No pumps.

I'll be happy with what I get 😊 they showed me in hospital with my son but got my next midwife appointment Monday so I'll ask him. Just to refresh my memory

I'll just pump after birth

Consultant suggested using a pump to me as a way to trigger labour. I was full term.

Colostrum doesn't work the same way as breastmilk. You don't get anywhere near the same quantities and you don't get "letdown" that releases any liquid, you have to do hand expressing to get colostrum.

The hand expressing to effectively get colostrum is also different to hand expressing to get milk (you can use that method but that's why most people don't get much colostrum at all). What you need to do is feel deep in your breast there will be some things that feel like hard peas. I squeeze these then gently rub down from there towards the nipple.

It takes about 30 mins to get 5-10ml of colostrum for me with this method. By comparison, 30 mins of hand expressing when your milk comes in will yield about 30-100ml of milk (depending on your supply and how long you've been BF for).

It's also a super-thick very oily liquid that won't travel down the breast pump into the bottle very easily and is likely to get stuck in the pressure valve part between the breast horn and the bottle.

Tbf I might do it when I'm full term as well as other things to help

Thank you for this. Much appreciated 😊

Can do it once full term.

The advice is to not do it before birth at all because it can trigger labour. If you want to use it at full time to trigger labour that's up to you, but that wasn't your original question.

I know someone commented and said they did it at full term. If it helps to bring on labour I'll try it.

Thank you for the comments 😊 will either pump at full term or when baba is here. I'll decide closer to the time. X