Harvesting colostrum

[GoshHashana]

I should probably ask my midwife about this but was wondering about peoples experience.

I'll be 37 weeks on Monday, and planning to start harvesting colostrum. How exactly is it done?? Do you squeeze it into a spoon and then suck it up into a syringe (sounds like something from Trainspotting...) or suck it directly from the nipple?

Have you been advised to do it?

I spoke to my midwife about this a couple of weeks ago as I'd never heard of it before (this is my third baby).

She said it's only something to consider if you've had previous difficulties in feeding, you have GD or have had a previous premature birth.

Other than that, just putting baby to the breast sighing his/her first hour is all you need.

My midwife suggested it at my 36 week appointment yesterday. Maybe it's not worth doing? I figured if I have to have a C-section, DH could feed it to the baby.

Are you having a section under general anaesthetic?

Usually you will be awake & baby will be given to you for skin to skin/first feed when you're in recovery.

I'm surprised your midwife suggested it without any extenuating circumstances. I had a section and was able to hold and feed my baby as normal practically as soon as he was born

I tried to do this and found it extremely difficult. I think, especially if it's your first, it is common for it not to really make an appearance until baby is born. However, once DS was born (despite a long difficult labour) he latched fine and was able to get it fine. So don't be disheartened if you can't get any - it doesn't mean it's not there!

I'm not scheduled for a C-section - expecting a vaginal birth. I told my midwife that I've been leaking a bit of colostrum and she suggested harvesting it. Maybe I'll give the breastfeeding team at the hospital a call on Monday morning.

It used to be only recommended if there was a reason but the advice is shifting to if you don't have a reason but still want to give it a go - go for it. Even if it isn't used its good as a back up.

It is not recommended before term so 37 weeks onwards. I have started trying there are videos and instructions online. They recommend trying after a shower or a bath, I've tried both and the shower was more successful. I've only tried a couple of times so far. The collosterum forms beads on the nipple and you suck them into a syringe. It can take a while. They suggest trying twice on each breast and you can add to the same syringe over the course of the day if you keep it in the fridge in between times.

I've only got a max of 0.15mL in a session so far, I have been washing and reusing the same syringe whilst trying to get the hand of it. I will not be using anything collected in this syringe but it means I'm not wasting syringes whilst practicing. I start maternity leave today so going to try harder then. One recommendation I've seen is a warm cloth on the breast you aren't collecting from. I'm going to try this next as I'm not getting much from my second round. Once I can get about 0.2-0.3ml in a session I'm going to start collecting for use.
Any syringes containing collosterum need to be labelled with your name and maternity details and the date. Then stored in the freezer in a labelled zip lock bag.

I want to try this too, even though no indications.
@Superscientist, that's good to know not to try it before 37 weeks. I am almost 28 weeks, and was curious to see if there is anything there, so gave my boobs a squeeze - dry as a desert. Will leave them alone until term 😂
@Somethingvague that's reassuring to know that it will hopefully come in later!

I must admit I initially didn’t really get the point - but I’m having a section and there is a risk this may delay supply so I figured it won’t do any harm to try. The worst case scenario is it doesn’t get used and is binned. Have been fairly leaky and gentle squeezing after a shower has enabled collection of 1ml at a time without much effort.

Echoing what @Superscientist said, it’s now sometimes recommended as something if you’d like to try or if you want it as back up. My midwife told me not to bother as I am low risk and hoping for vaginal birth but to go ahead if I wanted to.

I did it starting since 38 weeks (now 39+1) and did it maybe 4 times in total. Each day I sat for about 20mins after a bath and massaged a boob and then squeezed - plenty of videos online to show how to squeeze. It’s not painful, just a bit weird to see little drops come out but bare in mind nipple stimulation can kickstart contractions so you may get BH or real contractions afterwards. Hence not being recommended until full term just in case.

I used sterile syringes with caps on them (ordered from online) and each time got about 0.5 mls out. I then closed the cap, labelled the packet with date and time and stuck them in the freezer. I am low risk so hopefully won’t need them but feel reassured to have them just in case and also it was helpful to kinda learn how to hand express and familiarise myself with the feeling. Hope that helps

I was advised to do this due to my age. I was given little sterilised pots which I just had to squeeze it into. It was hard to get more than a dribble out to start but after a couple of weeks I could get quite a bit out. Oh and you have to squeeze your nipple far harder than feels comfortable!

If you are leaking you could try to scrape up the leakings but I wouldn’t try to stimulate it any more (ie no massage/kneading the boob) as it could bring on labour.

I found the best option was to scrape it off the nipple directly using the edge of the syringe opening (you want the syringes with stoppers). Keep in fridge between leakings. Then freeze, once the syringe is half/three quarters full. That means you don’t lose any. If you put it into a spoon or pot and then use a syringe to feed, you will lose quite a bit that remains in the spoon or pot - we’re talking tiny quantities here.

I've also been given some syringes from the midwife to see if I can collect anything as a back up if me and baby were separated for any reason right after birth. She only advised me on this after I mentioned that I'd had a bit of leakage a couple of times so it seems to be more opportunistic - as in you might as well give it a go just in case - than to do with any particular concerns that it will definitely be needed. Trouble is, now I've actually starting trying nothing is coming out!

I have IGT (Insufficient glandular tissue) and hypoplasia so have been advised by my lactation consultant to start harvesting from 36 weeks. She gave me a pack of thin syringes and some labels.
Having watched Youtube clips it looks like you massage the breast and then you can squeeze it out (there is a technique for this so watch vids). As a drop appears, you suck it up with the syringe and keep going until you have all you can get, and then label and freeze. Then take it in with you when you go to the hospital and hand it over immediately to the staff, they will then keep it frozen until want to give it to your baby.

I did it with my second child because when I had my first, a health assistant kept me up all night squeezing my breasts and scraping it off. It was horrific.
Just be aware that it can trigger labour.
It is easiest if you do it with your partner. You squeeze and they collect in syringes.

Thanks for all this great advice!

I'm harvesting mine atm and have just been hand expressing and sucking it up.
I have no medical reason but 5 of my friends this year have tried to BF and caved in the first few days and gone to formula (no judgement everyone has their own thoughts) and the reason being is they were unsure the baby was getting enough and panicked waiting for their milk to come in. I may not need to use it but want to anyway just to give me that back up in the first days.
My advice is drink plenty, get comfy with a few episodes of something to watch and be prepared to be there for a little while when you're getting the knack to it. It takes me about an hour to do each syringe and I've been doing about 1 every other day xx