Harvesting colostrum

[gg321]

Wanting to express some colostrum before baby is born, was going to start 36/37 weeks, I’m going to get some 1ml syringes, how many should I get/try to fill? I am going to be breastfeeding, but my midwife suggested I try the expressing colostrum incase needed if initial weight gain isn’t great as I’ve had this with my other baby. Thanks

I'd be wary as stimulating the nipples can cause pre term contractions.
But then I'm not a midwife or medical professional

Meh it's fine to start harvesting as late into pregnancy as you are. Try to get as much as possible - just don't do what I did and forget it in the freezer at home.

There is no right or wrong answer. It's a great thing to do to get to know your body and if you have any risk factors for delayed lactation or a history if a slow start to feeding. As you say start around 37 weeks. Just see how it goes giving it a bash once a day and freeze individual syringes with day you expressed on the label.

You won't go into labour from it. Yes milk ejection is governed by oxytocin which is the same hormone that causes contractions but hugging, kissing, thinking about someone you love etc also releases oxytocin. If expressing caused labour there would never be the need to induce anybody!

Don't go overboard, remember your milk changes so rapidly, even 2 or 3ml is enough for 2-3 feeds if baby isn't attaching. But remember every feed baby doesn't attach and you give expressed you need express to give your body the signals to get milk production going. All expressing before does is get you one step ahead, plus give you the confidence in expressing so if you do need to it isn't a new skill to learn while exhausted, sore and juggling a baby.

*can cause pre term contractions

I did this with baby 2 and 3 after big feeding problems with baby 1. I'm so glad I did, it bought us some time when feeding was tricky.

I bought 1ml syringes from Boots and started once a day at 36 weeks. After a couple of days went up to twice a day and started using Calpol syringes (sterilized first!). We had a big stock of them but you can also get 5ml syringes from a chemist.

Its time consuming and tedious but I'm glad I did it!!

My midwife has given me a kit with everything you need - check if yours offers them? I can start at 36/37 weeks. I have special colostrum syringes.