Colostrum harvesting

[orangejuicer]

I have GD and have been advised to try and do this. I started last night and have tried again this morning to no avail. Has anybody had success with this?
I am due to have an ELCS on 21st, I have ready made formula in my hospital bag - can I use this for the first day or two before my milk comes in? I'm just concerned that my LO might need an immediate feed and I won't be able to do it but I don't want to jeopardise my chances of bf by using formula.

I did it but found it very difficult. You have to have the technique just right or nothing comes out. It was a struggle but in the end I managed about 5 syringes worth before I went in for ELCS and then the HCA's helped me once I was in hospital.

I did this, worked so hard and regularly in tears of frustration to gather all my little half filled syringes. Froze them and neatly packed them with a cool pack and headed into hospital for induction. Ended up in theatre with forceps and when she was actually born no one knew where they had been put. What a waste of time. Luckily my DD was born with normal blood sugar levels and I was able to breastfeed her (she did get jaundice though and had to be topped up with formula to shift it).
So, I wouldn't worry too too much about it. I certainly wish I had worried less! Also, once baby is born you can put her to the breast but still harvest and syringe if you want.

If you are wanting to BF and baby needs some formula initially my hospital did finger feeding (where you give the milk by baby sucking it through a thin tube strapped to your finger) so it doesn't interfere with latch.

Good luck with the arrival of your little one :)

Ps, I found you have to be very firm with squeezing your nipple to get any out.

I know this is going to sound nuts but do you know how to milk a cow - pressure all around from top to bottom? My god, I can't believe I'm describing it like that! Position your hand in a C shape, thumb above and fingers underneath. You want to apply pressure onto the boob from both sides and slide your hand towards your nipple and then squeeze your nipple when you get to it. Don't use pointy fingers, no finger tips, you want to use the flat of your fingers/thumb.

It helps to have a warm thing on it, like a heatable bag/hot water bottle but not too hot! And maybe look at scan pictures etc to get the heart strings tugged.

You do the C shape both on the top/bottom and the side.

But....honestly don't panic if you can't do it. I had my DS at 36 weeks, so didn't have time, and the hospital helped me pump to get my milk going/get colostrum there and gave him formula to get his sugars stable. It's not the end of the world if you don't have any when you go!

Thanks so much for the replies!!

@Laburna um not so much but I'll give it a go anyway!

@orangejuicer there's some good information and picture instructions on the la leche league website

www.laleche.org.uk/hand-expression-of-breastmilk/#step

Watch some tutorial videos. There is a knack to it.

I had to get my partner to milk me! I just couldn't do it hard enough by myself

My tips are stroke and massage boobs for a good 10 mins before starting and make sure to drink lots of water. I’ve managed 2 1ml syringes so far but starting to get the hang of it now x