To ask how TF to collect colostrum?!

[SimplyAmy1]

So, sorry for the TMI post.

I am 34 weeks pregnant and have been leaking a bit throughout the past few weeks. I have little stains in my bras and sometimes if I’m in the bath or just sat down, it drops out!
I spoke to the dr about it at an appointment and then they gave me some syringes (10 ml) when I asked her how I actually do it she told me to just ‘have a little play’ so anyway the other day I was in the bath and noticed it dripping, I grabbed a syringe and tried to catch it but it didn’t work 🤣 I literally had a little drop and it just dried in the syringe tip…. I really don’t know how to do this!

Use a teaspoon to collect it then syringe from that. Much easier!

Also, try to massage / squeeze towards your nipple to help it flow. Only a few drops at this stage is fine. But use the teaspoon!

@jannika Thankyou! So just let the little drops go into a spoon first? I don’t feel like there’s enough to even warrant a syringe! 😩

Collect it in a clean dish/drinking glass first and then suck it up with the syringe..took me a bit to work that out too! DH though I was insane sitting in front of the TV, boobs out squeezing the tiny drops out, was very proud of my 10ml!

Squeeze directly into little pots. And it’s your breast you squeeze, pushing towards your areole, don’t squeeze your nipple.

It's not normally recommended to express before 37 weeks because it can bring on labour (you may well have exceptional circumstances but just thought I'd mention it because doctors can be a bit clueless about all things breastfeeding related!).

No actual advice to offer, just solidarity. My attempts to harvest colostrum just ended in a dried droplet in the tip of a syringe. So great if you can get it, but don't worry if you can't. And fwiw, when DS was really sleepy the night he was born and I wasn't happy that he'd fed enough, I managed to express a syringe full of colostrum really quickly for him then.

I did this in weeks 36 onwards and echo PP saying to use a teaspoon but make sure you sterilise it first!!!!! Don’t panic if you hardly get anything to begin with, it takes practise and more will come - I started off getting a droplet or two and towards the end was collecting 5ml + at each try. Good luck

You need 1ml syringes to start with.

Unless you have a reason to store colostrum, I wouldnt bother. It's a faff and will you even use it?

@HalloHello

Unless you have a reason to store colostrum, I wouldnt bother. It's a faff and will you even use it?

This.

It's honestly a bit gimmicky. Just wait till baby arrives & breast feed. The drops you get are just not worth it.

And yes, not advisable before 37 weeks.

You need a much smaller syringe, 2ml or even 1 ml. A newborns stomach is tiny in the first couple of days. It will be much easier with the smaller syringe. Colostrum is pretty thick and easy to suck is a syringe. If it’s quite watery or not much colour to it, I wouldn’t bother.

Echo what others have said about doing it before 37 weeks though. It potentially could start labour.

@HalloHello

Unless you have a reason to store colostrum, I wouldnt bother. It's a faff and will you even use it?

I guess the fact is you don't know but when you're pregnant and trying to get everything prepared it can give a bit of ease knowing you have it. With dc1 it was needed. DH was able to feed them while I was in surgery and recovering. Dc2 thankfully it wasn't needed.

@SimplyAmy1 I wouldn't deliberately express yet, I think it's after 36 weeks it recommend. And use smaller syringes, I was given 1ml. There are loads of YouTube videos on how to do it which I found helpful.

I'm in the same boat OP so Reading advice with interest!

I'd add I think for some it's certainly worth it. I couldn't breast feed DD so hoping this time, if the same is the case I can still give DS a good start, even if just for the first few days!

When I expressed colostrum post partum (my DD was in Transitional Care) I squeezed it into a petri-dish type plastic container then used the syringe to suck it up

Was worth it for us. DD couldn't latch at birth and having some syringes at home took the pressure off a bit. Plus I think it made it much easier to express in the first couple of days. I'm pregnant with DC2 and will do it again - hopefully we won't need them this time!

My midwife gave me a couple of 10ml pots as well as syringes, so they were sterile and meant that I could syringe it up from that. Also, go from the same point each time otherwise all of the colostrum just ends up all around the edge. Also I read somewhere that just trying to harvest colostrum (even if you don’t manage to get any out) massively increases the likelihood of you successfully breastfeeding

@SimplyAmy1 You're not supposed to start trying until 37 weeks - It can induce labour. The evidence is sketchy; but my midwife mentioned it at 31 weeks so I started then, and when she realised, she almost had kittens. I talked to a few different people about it; and everyone agrees, not before 37 weeks. It's also a lot harder to get colostrum before then; even if you are leaking. I've been leaking since 22 weeks 🙈

You might find it easier in a few weeks. And if you don't, it's not vital.

I just noticed about a million people had already said that; sorry!

I disagree with those saying don't bother. I tried and failed to express but I really wish I'd managed it as it would have been incredibly useful when we had issues with latch due to tongue tie needing to be separated. It would have taken away some of the pressure when I was desperately trying to express in hospital.

What I learned post birth was that I just wasn't firm enough when trying to express. Although you shouldn't do full on expressing before 37 weeks.

Also you need 1ml syringes.

@BeardieWeirdie omg Thankyou! See I didn’t even know that! I’d been squeezing my nipple! I just tried my actual boob and it worked!

@BimbleBamble I feel like I’m never gonna get 10ml!

@SpamIAm Thankyou! The health visitor called me to
Introduce herself then recommended it which is why I asked the doctor but never knew about the labour thing!

Thankyou everyone! To the people saying it’s not worth it or asking why I’m doing it,
I have no idea if I’m honest! It’s my first child and just doing what I’m told 😂 I didn’t even know it had to be a 1ml syringe- the doctor gave me 10ml which is probs why I’m struggling to fill it then?!
And recommended t

I think it is worth doing.
I collected about 30ml which I thought was totally overkill, but my baby was born with tongue tie, couldn’t latch and it gave me something to help tide us over until we could get it sorted. I used them all over about 5 or 6 days.

I was so relieved to have colostrum to give DC2 they were in special care initially so DP was able to give Colostrum. Then I topped up with it for days because of poor latch due to tongue tie.
I wish I’d had it for DC1 who had Jaundice and couldn’t feed without falling asleep.
I’d rather have some stored and not need it than wish I’d done it. Our community midwives have kits they give out with 1ml syringes and information.
I would second the advice to express into something like a spoon or shot glass but make sure it’s sterilised, you can boil it for 5 mins if you don’t have a steriliser. Then draw it up into the syringes and freeze them in freezer bags.
I would also agree that I’d wait until 37 weeks if I were you, just in case it causes you to contract early.

Sorry also meant say, doing in the bath or straight after when you’re warm is a good place to start. It seems to flow easier.
I also collected straight from my nipple into the syringe. It’s a bit awkward one handed, but I kind of gripped it in my hand and then used a finger to move the plunger back. Then knock out the air bubbles and continue. I felt like I lost too much using a spoon.
Also agree with everyone saying don’t start too early!

You can get colostrum collecting syringes- e.g www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwjK7dbfmdzzAhXUNSsKHYcWADQYABAPGgJzZg&ae=2&ei=frpxYabYLceGxc8Pt4Cs6Ao&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAESQOD2A5yM_HOqwjch-NmyUw8pe_Ei5H74Z-RgGFkxVHHuguwatfUTjD_D4lvA6qbm_zRzxv40YSEBbW_XyMAPxy8&sig=AOD64_2qmTHYkJNQMVj3CelG9n0ZuqPclQ&ctype=70&q=&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwimj8LfmdzzAhVHQ_EDHTcAC60Qwg96BAgBEDY&adurl=

I was given some free by the hospital antenatal unit so worth asking there. They have wide tips, so you can syringe up from the nipple area.

I was advised not before 37weeks due to risk of inducing labour.

They can be useful if baby is sleepy or doesn't latch well post birth.

I had gestational diabetes and they recommended I try expressing before birth to help stabilise my son's blood sugar after labour (if needed).