Colostrum harvesting prior to birth

[loopylou1984]

Hi all

I have been advised to start collecting colostrum for my twins who will be born at 34 weeks. The problem is I'm getting nothing!
Can anyone help/share their story of how long it took to see results.... is it possible my boobs just don't work?! Any tips welcome, I already started with a warm bath and massage, plus I had a scan pic and baby clothes with me while trying.

Thank you in advance

Evenings are the worst time for milk production so don't worry too much. You've got time

PS I had a 34 weeker too but suddenly so no chance to pre express! Milk came in very quickly though. Good luck

sammy am sure when I started I got one or two drops. Within a couple of days I could easily fill a 5ml syringe in minutes. You need the syringes so you can suck it up as you go (it's not like it's pouring out!).

Start by massaging the whole breast but then you do need to squeeze the nipple (the whole areola not just the ends) and from different angles. The colostrum should gather as droplets.

I did this from 36/40 and had 100ml even for my DS when he was born at 41/40. So glad I did it as we were both unwell so helped us both out .

It will come eventually, just keep persevering

Agghhh!!!! I'm on day 3 and I just can't do it
I did get another tiny drop today, but literally 1 bead, no where near enough to get in to the syringe.
It's so frustrating. My body can't do anything to do with pregnancy correctly it would seem.

I've left a voicemail with the infant feeding team at my hospital but they don't work every day according to the message. Fabulous.

Keep trying. Stimulation is good. Have you looked on YouTube for videos for different techniques?

Thanks mummyme. I guess I naively thought I'd have a ml or so in the freezer by now!
Yes I have watched quite a few videos, so far none of the techniques have been successful for me. Will keep trying while waiting for the infant feeding team to get back to me! Xx

Perhaps you could try finding a local breastfeeding drop in group and see if one of them can show you in a fairly, ahem, hands on way? Might be easier/quicker than getting hold of the hospital.

There doesn't seem to be one in my town :(.
I just spoke to the community midwife who said that it sounds like I'm doing all the right things and just to keep going. Easy for her to say!
Hope the hospital team will be more inviting when they pick up my message.

I have been doing this for a week due to problems feeding my first. First day I literally got 0.3ml in the whole day! Now I am getting about 9ml and I am not doing it for as long now. It gives me hand cramps but it really does pick up quickly. Keep going! X

Panda I'm not even getting that. One breast there's nothing at all, the other Ive had 2 droplets :(.
I'm going to keep trying, there's no other option really. X

You're only 32+5, it's not surprising really. Maybe give it a break for a couple of days and then try again. Your hormones will be changing day by day. Remember it's not the end of the world if you can't get any pre birth, boobs are a totally different story post birth anyway. Maybe ask if your hosp has access to donor bm to use for the first day or so after birth? If you have that as backup you might feel more relaxed. And plenty of preemies have some formula to start with while BM kicks in (mine did)

No, sadly the hospital don't have a milk bank. It will be formula if I can't feed them (no pressure then!).
I'm not anti formula, it's just everyone I've spoken to at the hospital is raving about colostrum for the early days (especially as mine are so small) so I really want to make sure they have the best!

I wouldn't panic, I imagine it'll be so you've already got things moving once the babies are here? As pp said it's very early, you'd be lucky to be getting much at the moment

Well just do what you can. If you are doing it 2-3 times for 5/10 mins on each boob and that is what you are getting then maybe it is too early. It will be stressful enough having newborn twins to take care of (I would imagine, 1 was hard enough for me!!) without stressing about BF. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. It didn't for me with my first and I spent the first 2 weeks with him just pumping &crying!! When my MW finally told me to stop&just go to formula everything was infinitely better. Having said that, during those first 2 weeks I hadn't tried expressing before the baby and I managed to get 1-2 good colostrum feeds for my baby per day so at least he got something! Sorry for ramble, but in short: keep doong it for a couple of times a day. If nothing comes out at least.you are getting some practice in and it maybe help when the babies arrive. On the other hand, formula isn't the devil and in certain cases it is what is required, don't beat yourself up about it x

Try crossposting this on Infant Feeding.

Do you have a branch of La Leche League near you? This is a specialist case and all the LLL leaders I know would have happily come and seen you in person to do what they can to help.

Try contacting NCT too in case there is breastfeeding support there.

These might be encouraging links. Even if you can't get the colostrum there's still a high chance you'll be able to breastfeed them when they are born. www.llli.org/nb/nbpremature.html

You'll still produce colostrum don't worry! It just may be happen after the birth rather than before, which means the nurses use formula while your own milk kicks in. Yes in an ideal world it would be colostrum from minute 1 but it's not a big deal if they have a bit of formula first, as I say, many (probably most) preemies do.

Keep trying and if it doesn't happen yet it's not the end of the world. I know at the moment it seems so important because it's one of the few things you can actually do but in the long run it's not such a biggie, and I'm sure you will produce it at some point, maybe just not yet.

I'm sorry you're being put under so much pressure.

Minipie - you summed it up perfectly. I just want to do something for them. It's been a very difficult pregnancy during which we thought we'd lose them more than once I'm just feeling emotional about everything.
I do know really that formula will be fine if necessary.

Bertie - I missed the breast feeding session of our nct course as it got rearranged due to snow and fell when we already had plans. I'll try emailing them. Good idea.

Thank you also Panda and Ravioli. X

Big hand hold for you you are nearly there and I completely understand the anxiety.

My eldest was born very quickly and unexpectedly at 28 weeks. One of my many surreal memories was being given a syringe and told to express what I could. I managed to do it despite having had nothing before the birth being so early, so don't worry that if it doesn't happen now it won't at all.

I would also say be easy on yourself re feeding. I saw too many women crying feeling they had 'failed' because of breast feeding issues in SCBU. You can only ever do your best, and there should never be any guilt.

As it was I was able to exclusively express for 12 weeks, mix feed for a further 12 and then switched fully to formula. Whereas for my subsequent 3 children, including one 35 weeker, I breast fed for a year. You would never be able to pick the one who had the different start to like though

I know it must feel scary preparing for babies that are going to be small and early but 34 weeks is a good gestation. It obviously comes in stages but it was the point in subsequent pregnancies where I did start to relax as I knew it should mean a short SCBU stay before home.

The pressure you are (probably) feeling about this is going to effect oxytocin production which will effect successful hand expressing.

Maybe have a break for a couple of days and next time you try, get in a warm bath and when you are feeling more relaxed, massage your breasts first in circular motions and then retry expressing. Having your DP close by might (or might not) help.

Sorry, re-read your OP and see you've been recommended baths and massage already. I'd try and take the pressure off and give it a couple of days. If you are comfortable to try again, you could enlist the help of your DP.

Turns out my technique wasn't quite right. I saw the breastfeeding midwife yesterday and she helped me collect 0.2ml, and just managed another 0.2ml with DHs help. We have something! Phew!

Thank you for all the suggestions and tips... she covered a lot of the same stuff. You ladies know your colostrum collection!!

Oh yay! Glad you saw someone and have had good advice. Well done.