Colostrum

[Bibby26]

I had a dream that I had no milk and ever since it’s made me stupidly paranoid.

I think it’s because I’ve got large breasts anyway so not noticed much of a change to them (other than them being horrendously dry) and it’s playing on my subconscious

I’m 30 weeks so I’m not sure if it’s too early, when were you able to squeeze a bit of colostrum out? And if anyone didn’t, did this cause a problem breast feeding?

33 weeks and nothing yet!

I never expressed colostrum and exclusively breastfeed my first for 10 months and my daughter for 15 months. During my daughter I also was able to donate to the milk bank for 4 months.

And to also say I never leaked before birth. Didn't event think to try to see if there was any.

In my personal opinion, unless you are advised so, there is no need to express before hand.

I have been hand expressing, my trust ran a course on the benefits of expressing colostrum. They don't recommend you doing it until 37 weeks though due to the risks of early labour.

I never expressed colostrum in pregnancy, wouldn't have wanted to anyway as the thought made me squeamish. I don't know why you would really, I never heard of this being a thing when I had my children. I had no trouble at all breastfeeding and did so for 9 months, but only ever expressed with a pump, couldn't do it by hand.

I'm still feeding DS2 who's 19m. I never had colostrum before he was born and my boobs didn't change much - a little bit bigger but like you my boobs are larger so not much to notice.

Don't worry.

Also larger boobs here and I BF my 3 children for between 15 months and 27 months. Never leaked before birth and, infact , after birth.

I could never express anything in pregnancy and I was trying in my second pregnancy because I had gestational diabetes and it was recommended. Couldn't get anything at all, not even a drop until baby was born and latched. Fed first child until nearly 2 and still feeding second child at 17 months. Don't worry, not being able to express is no indication of how much milk you will have post birth.

I'm pregnant with my second and I'm getting colostrum at 26 weeks. I don't remember when I had it with my first baby.

You could try having a warm bath and have a try. You need really to massage the whole breast, not just the nipple. Think of it like a toothpaste tube in a way!

Thanks everyone I feel a lot better now!

Just to be clear I don’t want to express it during pregnancy I just want to know if they work 🙈