Harvesting colostrum - where to get syringes?

7 replies

mindutopia · 22/11/2017 10:23

I plan to harvest a bit of colostrum if I can this time around as my 1st had an awful time with feeding and weight gain to start and it would be reassuring to know I have it if I need it.

For those who have done it, where did you find syringes with caps? I'm specifically looking for 1 ml ones. They seem to be hard to find with caps or if I can, they are ridiculously expensive.

OP posts:

Dragonfree · 22/11/2017 23:43

I did this, but didn't worry about capping the syringes. I just put them in a zip lock bag and then into the fridge (and then freezer after 48 hours if I hadn't given birth....)

It might be worth getting a few urine sample pots too. My breasts were extremely enthusiastic and after a week I was getting 20ml

RNBrie · 22/11/2017 23:45

I used sterilised calpol syringes.

Original poster

mindutopia · 24/11/2017 12:52

Problem is our freezer drawers are quite small so will have to lie them down (they'll probably fall over anyway as soon as I shut the drawer). So they will need caps on them. Also, all our calpol syringes are so old they leak and again no caps. I'm thinking I may just get some plastic test tubes with caps and I can express straight into those and then cup feed if necessary. We never syringe fed our daughter. I just expressed straight into a cup and fed her from that the first few days.

OP posts:

butterybollocks · 01/12/2017 17:22

I got some from eBay - if you go on the gestational diabetes uk website, under harvesting colostrum there is a link. Mine didn't have caps, I just slipped them back in the packaging and froze them straight away in a clip lock box at a slight angle. Colostrum is quire thick and sticky so I didn't have any problems. Then just took that box into the hospital and left it in their fridge.

BabyOrSanta · 01/12/2017 17:36

I'm using ones without caps - as long as you're not overflowing the syringe, they don't leak out (so only fill to the shoulders)

Got mine on eBay

minniemummy0 · 04/12/2017 11:42

Don’t know if this is a bit late OP but I got some from the antenatal clinic at the hospital, they had them for people with gestational diabetes but were happy to give me some when I asked.

AGnu · 04/12/2017 12:21

I bought the syringes & caps separately from eBay.

Flip