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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Colostrum question

12 replies

OnceUponAThread · 01/07/2022 13:10

I've been collecting colostrum as advised by my midwife and consultant.

However, I'm not clear about what happens with it / how I use it. I've just had my midwife appointment cancelled and I'm struggling to get her on the phone.

I've got a c-section booked. Presumably I take the colostrum with me. But how much? All of it? In a cool bag? Will the hospital have a freezer / fridge for it. Or do I just take a couple of syringes in the first instance and send DH for more if / when needed?

Also - when do I give it to the baby? Immediately? Instead of trying to breast feed or as well as? How much should I give and how often?

Any advice appreciated. I was so laser-focused on gathering the stuff that now I have no idea what to do with it. Confused

OP posts:
Lalosalamanca · 01/07/2022 13:22

Take it all

Put the baby to breast after birth. There will be a midwife and nurse around post op they will answer all your questions and store it for you

Sprogonthetyne · 01/07/2022 13:26

It's their as a backup incase you can't feed initially, but you should still try to breastfed directly (if that's what you want). I took it still frozen in a cool bag and they transferred it to a fridge, some have freezers but don't counton it. I froze it in the little syringes I used to collect it, then just ran them under a warm tap and squeeze it into babies mouth.

How much to take depends on how much you have. I took everything I'd collected which was a mistake as I didn't actually need it but couldn't re-freeze it. DH ended up giving her it once we got home while I napped, but mostly so it didn't go to waste. Would have actually been far more useful to defrost it a week later, when the sleep deprivation had kicked in and I needed an uninterrupted nap more.

Original poster
OnceUponAThread · 01/07/2022 13:30

@Sprogonthetyne - thank you. That's helpful.

I've got 11 syringes so far, and should have 15-20 by the c-section date.

Don't want to defrost them all and waste it if I won't need them. How many do you think I should take / how many would have worked for you?

I have some risk factors so the doctors have all been very insistent I try and collect if possible, now just want to make sure I'm using it right.

Also, I don't want to derail trying to breast feed by filling the baby up on harvested colostrum either. I understand their stomachs are teeny at that stage. So confusing.

OP posts:
YorkshireTeaCup · 01/07/2022 13:35

@OnceUponAThread they will only give the colostrum if baby can't bf directly from you. So you don't need to worry about them filling up on harvested colostrum. Its no bother if it doesn't get used.

For example, my DD was taken to NICU at 23hrs old with sepsis. I hadn't been able to collect any colostrum pre labour, but after that point, i collected lots for her to be fed with it alongside the feeding tube. Once she was strong enough to go back on the breast, I've no idea what happened to the colostrum I supplied but we hadn't used yet - i assume it just got thrown out.

onedream · 01/07/2022 15:56

I had 10 by the time I went to hospital for my c-section. I took them all with me from my freezer into the hospital and gave it to the midwife first thing when I arrived. She then put them all in their freezer. Had my baby in the morning, breasted him all day and once moved to postnatal..my older son was very sleepy when born, this baby boy was very alert from birth and wanted to feed all the time. Coming first night in hospital post c-section he was really fussy and not happy with what he was getting out of me, seemed really hungry and crying a lot. I asked for my syringes and midwife brought them over, it took couple minutes to defrost just by holding them in my hand and she gave him some, for some reason I wasn't allowed feeding him myself the midwife had to do it. It took 6 syringes for him to be finally happy and settled. I took leftovers with me back home next day and used them all on the first night home, I actually wish I had more ready beforehand.
These were definitely useful to me, could do with more actually.
I asked hospital beforehand if they have freezer and I can bring them in, when you go for your pre op bloods/covid test just double check if you can and definitely take if they say yes

Original poster
OnceUponAThread · 01/07/2022 15:57

@onedream thanks, that's really useful. I've made a note to ask these questions at pre-opp appt.

OP posts:
IncredibleSulk · 01/07/2022 16:04

You’re advised to hand express (particularly if high risk) mainly for two reasons: firstly, the more you do it antenatally the easier the colostrum will come at birth and you will be able to hand express if baby is sleepy or not able to feed. Secondly, you have a stash to use if needed. First point of call will always be to put baby to the breast if possible. Then if needed to hand express (to establish milk supply) and if still needed to have the back up supply to be given. So it’s likely that you may not even end up using all of your harvested colostrum. But… if you didn’t do it antenatally you may well struggle to express what is needed for baby if experiencing any feeding problems.

Sprogonthetyne · 01/07/2022 16:07

I took 20 syringes in (40ml), if I was to have another I'd probably take 10 and leave 10 in the freezer, but it depends how easily you could get them brought in if you needed.

Original poster
OnceUponAThread · 01/07/2022 16:10

Thanks all. Great advice. I think I'll take ten to start and have husband deliver more if needed. Might also try and get more banked and stashed than I'd planned.

Will also ask about storage and freezers at my booking in appt.

OP posts:
InTheNightWeWillWish · 01/07/2022 16:13

I only got one syringe before my induction (and I forgot to take it with me). It would have been useful as I didn’t produce anything until about 17 hours after birth so baby had to have formula. If you are able to breastfeed straight away, it’s useful afterwards for a number of different things like topping baby up if their weight is a bit low or you need a break. It’s also good if they are ill or have dry skin. There’s loads of uses for it. Colostrum is also calorie dense so one syringe can go quite a long way.

Original poster
OnceUponAThread · 01/07/2022 16:15

InTheNightWeWillWish · 01/07/2022 16:13

I only got one syringe before my induction (and I forgot to take it with me). It would have been useful as I didn’t produce anything until about 17 hours after birth so baby had to have formula. If you are able to breastfeed straight away, it’s useful afterwards for a number of different things like topping baby up if their weight is a bit low or you need a break. It’s also good if they are ill or have dry skin. There’s loads of uses for it. Colostrum is also calorie dense so one syringe can go quite a long way.

Oooh, I didn't know about the other uses. That's handy. Might need to get more syringes.

OP posts:
addler · 01/07/2022 16:38

I just used to give my leftover syringes as a little nutrient dense treat to use them up. Or sometimes added them to bottles as we had to supplement. A minuscule amount but I couldn't bear throwing it out as any of the precious few drops I could make were very special to me

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