Harvesting colostrum

[Mrstobe90]

I've just started to harvest and store colostrum, ready for when baby comes and I was wondering, how many times a day can you syringe?

Is there a recommended limit?

I've started looking in to this and what I've read recommends once a day.

Be aware that it's basically the only thing with some proven link to bringing on labour so if you are less than 37 weeks, maybe hold off for a bit!

Thanks for your reply!

I've found so many conflicting articles about it and it's so confusing.
I've read on some that you should do it once a day and others say 2-4 times.

I'm 37 weeks on Saturday so not far off but I don't want her to come until she's ready.

I've started harvesting colostrum this week (37 weeks on Monday). I would start with just once a day after you shower (at night is better, but if you don't shower at night, see if you can get some in the morning, but try at night if that doesn't work). Keep yourself nice and warm. I express into a plastic test tube (ordered some from Amazon) and then will freeze than and then thaw and syringe up then. I had to hand express with my dd in the early days and I cannot get my head around having to do it into a spoon! I know that's what they recommend, but that seems tricky. A small pot (think like the sort of little pots people buy for weaning) would do as well. Whatever you use, wash and sterilise first. I've been using milton's wipes to do it.

Don't be discouraged if you don't get much at first. In fact, you might just try expressing a bit for a couple days without even trying to collect it. I only got a couple drips the first two days, and then significantly more on days 3 & 4. It takes your body a while. I haven't been able to express at other times of the day. Our house is really cold and it just doesn't come. But a warm bathroom after a shower does it. And I'm getting plenty now just doing it once a day. Your boobs do get a bit tender, so probably once a day is all you may want to do to start. If you find you're leaking throughout the day though, definitely save that. Baby's bellies are really tiny to start, about the size of a marble, so you really don't need much at all.

Oh and I should add I refrigerate after and keep in the fridge for 48 hours (keep collecting in the same pot) and then freeze after 48 hours is up. That gets me in 3 full expressing sessions.

Thanks so much for your advice! I'll definitely try tonight after a shower.

Last night was my first time collecting (have been leaking colostrum since 18 weeks) and managed to fill 2 syringes in 40 minutes (technically 2 and a half as I accidentally squirted off out of the syringe and had to fill it again lol).
Bit sore today so hoping the heat of a shower works :)