Midwife wants me to save my colostrum but I don't have any?

[erised24]

At my 36 week appointment, I told her I was wanting to BF so she gave me a little pack with syringes so I can self express colostrum to use after birth... but I don't have any coloustrum? I also thought colostrum and milk doesn't really come in til after baby is born? She told me to do it twice a day from 36 weeks.

I did it with both of mine, oldest is 3 years old now. It came in handy with ds1 as I had complications and surgery, dh was able to syringe feed ds the colostrum while I was away from him. It wasn't needed for ds2 thankfully but I liked having it ready to defrost if needed.

There are some great YouTube videos as others have said. It was tough going getting a drop the first few times doing it but after a bit of practice it was easy enough.

Thanks everyone.

I don't have GD or any other complications, also am a FTM so no indication if BF is going to be difficult for me.

I have tried to express and watched videos but I've gotten the tiniest amount, not enough for the syringe to even suck up. Will try not to stress about it.

I've started harvesting colostrum (37 weeks), it's quite time consuming, takes me just under an hour to fill a 1.0ml syringe. A lot of patience required (and a good playlist), it can take a few minutes before you start getting enough to suck up...it's thick stuff!

I'm a FTM, no expected complications, just wanted some as backup and to help boost my confidence a bit before breast feeding.

Definitely not worth stressing over though

Oh also, just to add, I found putting a warm flannel at the top of my chest really helped the trickle flow----

Ignore her, the keys to successful breastfeeding are to be relaxed, get help with positioning and most of all of at all possible to feed in the first 15 mins after birth - my Dd2 was latched on within 5 mins of birth at my midwifes suggestion, didn't have any issues (dd1 was born elsewhere and I was told to shower etc first).

I have a 4.5 month old and started doing this from 36 weeks, only because the midwife mentioned it and I decided to have a go as I wanted to do anything that would help breastfeeding. I got the tiniest droplets and I never filled a syringe. It took me a few days to get anything worth saving and even then it was hardly anything!

I took it to the birth centre with me and put it in the freezer and then left it there 🤦 I never ended up needing it but it was great learning how to hand express!

I've had no problems with breastfeeding and have plenty of milk (too much sometimes!)

Please don't worry 😊 relax into the breastfeeding journey and get help if you need it, I've enjoyed it so much.

My DS is 2.5yrs and I was encouraged to do this by midwife and hospital. I managed several syringes worth after lots and lots of trying.

I'm not sure why people are so negative about it, yes it may not be needed but if it is it's good to have.

I’m surprised how many people feel that collecting colostrum isn’t necessary. Although I don’t think you need to collect any before baby is born, for some mums it’s quite useful.

My DS was born at 37 weeks and was very sleepy . It was a challenge to wake him to nurse the first couple days . I was shown how to hand express colostrum into a syringe and hand fed it to my DS to wake him & give him a taste of the good stuff. It saved me !!!!! As it turned how he also had a severe tongue tie and wasn’t getting enough colostrum even from the breast . By day 5 he got his tongue tie snipped and by day 6 my milk came on . I went on to successfully breastfeed for 14 months.

It’s definitely not necessary to collect colostrum beforehand and I wouldn’t worry if you can’t get any . Personally I wasn’t bothered to collect beforehand ( definitely did once baby arrived ) but it can be useful for some and also great practice for hand expressing .

I’m surprised how many people feel that collecting colostrum isn’t necessary.
It's not necessary. I've fed three without even being aware of this initiative. Many, many people have.

I'll probably do this if I have another child as DS didn't latch when newborn. At first the HCA's helped me on delivery suite to express into a syringe but when I moved to ward no one had time, I found it really stressful to try and do it myself so ended up formula feeding. I wouldn't have thought about doing it with DS, but it can be handy in those early days if you're struggling to get a latch

@Thisismytimetoshine I worded that wrong 🤦‍♀️ I meant I’m surprised how many people think there is no need for it when there is for some mums.
It’s great you didn’t need it !

[quote MichelleOR84]@Thisismytimetoshine I worded that wrong 🤦‍♀️ I meant I’m surprised how many people think there is no need for it when there is for some mums.
It’s great you didn’t need it ![/quote]
Sorry, Michelle, I wasn't dissing the idea, I'd just genuinely never heard of it. My youngest is 11.

I just saw this on my Instagram, very helpful info. I hope it's helpful for you 😊 @erised24
(I've tried to post this 3 times so sorry if it has posted too many times!)