Colostrum harvesting

[bluechameleon]

I had my first attempt at colostrum harvesting today at 36+1. I am advised to do this because of gestational diabetes. I have a couple of questions for anyone who has done it:
Did it get easier? I got 0.1ml in half an hour, which is only going to give me 2.5ml ish by my section date if I get that every day.
Is there benefit in doing it twice a day or will it not replenish quickly enough?
Thanks

Sorry I’ve nothing to advise or add but I will be looking to do this as well and am interested in any info you are given. Good luck!

Is this your first pregnancy? I was hoping I’d find it easier as it’s my 3rd having bf successfully twice before.

It is my second child but breastfeeding didn't work out with my first. I'd really like it to be successful this time.

I have a feeling if you keep at it you will get more each day.

What are you using to extract it? If a pump most will be wasted. I think manual and a syringe is better.

Ragusa yes, I'm using a syringe. I hope you're right that the amount will increase.

Hi. I was just wondering how GD affects breastfeeding? I’m a bit worried now! I don’t think I have GD but I haven’t had the test yet, due to be tested in feb

Keep at it. I did it for about two weeks before DS was born and managed to get two of the 1ml syringes full that I gave him after he was born. Not sure it made much difference, but his blood sugar levels were stable. It's a right pain, but I got a bit obsessed with it in the end, even though I barely managed to collect much.

@AnUtterIdiot ahhhh, thank you! My babies were 9lb11 and 9lb11.5 so they want to test me this time, although I’m perfectly okay with bigger babies! How do you store the colostrum once you’ve harvested it?

I think it was fridge for 24 hours and then freezer for storage.

You are doing a lot of oxytocin hormone stimulation so do not focus on supply at all.

It will come. 2-3 times a day is what my hospital suggest for harvesting.

I don’t have any advice but planning on doing this too so will follow this thread. :)

Silly question but where do you get the syringes from?

mrs My diabetes midwife said she would give me a kit but my appointment isn't until a week before my section so I bought some from Amazon. They recommend 1ml syringes.

I got 0.1ml the first day, 0.6ml the second day, 1ml the third day and 2ml the 4th day. It take 30-40 mins each time and I do it twice a day. No time to do it more (3 was recommended by my hospital). I put it in the freezer at the end of each day, with a label on.

Yes I did it and yes tour supply will increase. I didn’t have gestational diabetes but did it anyway. Any scenarios where feeding may be more difficult or baby is at risk of low blood sugars it is sensible to do. I had 100ml for dS1 and used every drop as he had an unexpected admission to NNu with meningitis. With dS2 I had 24ml and have about 6ml left in freezer which I won’t need

I've done it (for second baby, due to GD).

I started earlier than you but yes I got more the more I did it. Probably only about 1ml per time though. I got more if I'd drunk lots, was relaxed etc. I tried to do it twice per day. By the time my son was born I had about 15 syringes (1ml each) also bought from amazon.

The reason it was worth doing is that when they do the heal tests for the babies sugar levels when it's born is that if they are low they will suggest a top up which I didn't want to be formula. In the end I used all 15ml at 3 different times on that first 24hrs to get the babies levels up enough to get discharged. It was be different at different hospitals but at mine your baby needed to get 3 bloods in a row over their threshold, if you didn't the testing started again and you were back at square one. Because they needed a gap between feeds of 2 hrs to do their measurements it was a real pain and I'm very glad I had the extra in the post natal ward fridge. If I did it again I'd try and get 20/25ml expressed before hand just to have it if needed.

Good luck and if you have any other questions happy to answer