Colostrum harvesting

HarvestingHelp · 2021-02-13T17:33:03+00:00

Hi ladies, On the advice of my midwife, I've started colostrum harvesting last night. However I haven't even got 0.1ml. Not even half of that! I'm not worried, it may come in, it may not - I'm aware that it doesn't happen to all. My only question is, should I throw the first syringe away and just try to build up the flow for a few days before I start to collect it? I know baby's tummy will only be little and won't need much to feed, however surely just a few drops isn't worth freezing and I should save the syringes until I get a bit more to make it worthwhile? Thanks for any advice received.

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

TeaPiglet · 13/02/2021 17:37

Personally I'd build my supply up a little then harvest but not sure if that's the right thing to do. I didn't harvest with my DD

Original poster

HarvestingHelp · 13/02/2021 17:41

@TeaPiglet

Personally I'd build my supply up a little then harvest but not sure if that's the right thing to do. I didn't harvest with my DD

Thank you! This is what I'm thinking. I don't want to waste syringes for a few drops, but if I'm supposed to just save it all, then I'll do it. Just trying to find out what the best way is and there's no FAQs about how much is too little (if anything).

OP posts:

LittleRa · 13/02/2021 17:45

I have a 6.5yo DD and I didn’t do any colostrum harvesting when pregnant with her, it didn’t really seem to be a thing. However, I’m now 36+6 with my second baby and it seems to be everywhere this time!

I haven’t started yet but I have some 1ml syringes, and my midwife said not to worry if you literally only get drops (she described as globules!). She said it keeps for 6 days in the fridge so if you get one drop one day then put in fridge and get another drop the next day etc top up the same syringe until day 6 then put it in the freezer.

Original poster

HarvestingHelp · 13/02/2021 17:55

@LittleRa

I have a 6.5yo DD and I didn’t do any colostrum harvesting when pregnant with her, it didn’t really seem to be a thing. However, I’m now 36+6 with my second baby and it seems to be everywhere this time!

I haven’t started yet but I have some 1ml syringes, and my midwife said not to worry if you literally only get drops (she described as globules!). She said it keeps for 6 days in the fridge so if you get one drop one day then put in fridge and get another drop the next day etc top up the same syringe until day 6 then put it in the freezer.

6 days?! I read 24 hours before freezing!! I can certainly see why she calls them globules. Very apt. I plan on expressing to feed so I like the harvesting idea, as it starts a little supply off for in the hospital.

OP posts:

OverTheRainbow88 · 13/02/2021 17:57

I wouldn’t worry about doing this, totally unnecessary in my humble opinion.

emmalou19 · 13/02/2021 19:03

Hi OP, I harvested colostrum with my DD born in August. I could only get it out of one side, but like a PP said you can collect as much as you can, put the syringe in the fridge and then add to it if you get any later in the day. I'd say every little helps. I took mine to hospital and used it all and continued to do this after she was born as she didn't latch properly until day 2.

Original poster

HarvestingHelp · 13/02/2021 19:11

That's helpful! I've put it in the freezer, I just hope the midwives don't think I'm crazy bringing in a syringe with only a few drops. I'll speak to her at my next appointment and see what she says.

OP posts:

Original poster

HarvestingHelp · 13/02/2021 19:12

@OverTheRainbow88

I wouldn’t worry about doing this, totally unnecessary in my humble opinion.

I was tempted not to, but I decided I'll give it a go and, as PP states, every little helps.

OP posts:

Lostinacloud · 13/02/2021 19:17

Have to admit I’ve never heard of this before you’ve had the baby! However, back when my DS (now 11) was born he had to go to intensive care with a serious strep b infection not long after he was born and the midwives asked me if I’d like to try and collect some colostrum that they could feed him while he was too weak to feed from me. Bearing in mind I’d had him by then and so my boobs had been kick started a bit more, I squeezed and squeezed for about 45 mins and could only manage to get a very minimal amount. I can’t remember exactly how much but I think it wasn’t anymore than 2ml and the midwives seemed genuinely impressed by that!

brunetteonthebus · 13/02/2021 19:20

I did this for my second baby, as my milk was really delayed after a very traumatic birth with my first and I had nothing to give her for days, not a drop. Second baby was a planned CS which I knew could also cause a delay so it seemed sensible.

I would keep 1 syringe for each day ok the fridge in a sterilised sealed container and fill it over the course of the day. The more you harvest the more will come but it is slow to start. Don't do it too early either or it could possibly make you go into labour.

I ended up with about 6 little syringes (so 6ml) to take in in a cold bag. I did use it too, when I was in recovery DH gave baby her first feed using it, just a few drops at first. It kept her going until I was recovered enough (only a few hours. Maybe 12, tops?) to feed her myself. No trouble with milk that time, luckily!

ivfbeenbusy · 13/02/2021 19:21

Why has she advised you do start before birth? It can cause labour like contractions and in extreme cases bring on the onset of labour?

Anyway - I had twins via emergency c section on a Saturday morning - started harvesting colostrum within 30 mins of the birth and then every 2-3 hours after that. Day 1 maybe got 0.1 ml day 2 felt a bit despondent - twins in NICU and didn't feel like I was getting anywhere with it so didn't express much. Day 3 decided to persevere again and started to get between 0.5 to 1ml. Day 4 milk started to come in. But you do need to be doing it regularly - every 2 hours with no more than a gap of 6 hours at night

minipie · 13/02/2021 19:21

What gestation are you? Please don’t start too early.

Do save every drop, it’s incredibly rich (“liquid gold” the midwives call it). You can fridge the syringe and then top it up each day as a pp describes. Or even freezer.

Expressing to feed is a PITA by the way and I wouldn’t plan on it unless you have no choice!

Nix32 · 13/02/2021 19:22

What I don't understand about this is, you only produce a limited amount of colostrum so isn't it better to wait until the baby is here before starting to use it?

LittleRa · 13/02/2021 19:26

Here’s some NHS info, OP and others:

www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/resources/patient-information/diabetes/antenatal-hand-expressing-from-37-weeks.pdf

www.mcht.nhs.uk/EasysiteWeb/getresource.axd?AssetID=17975&type=full&servicetype=Attachment

minipie · 13/02/2021 19:29

@Nix32

What I don't understand about this is, you only produce a limited amount of colostrum so isn't it better to wait until the baby is here before starting to use it?

I think the problem is that for some women the colostrum doesn’t kick in quick enough after birth and the baby can have problems with low blood sugar as a result. This is particularly likely if you have diabetes or gestational diabetes. I had GD and had to stay in hospital with DD2 for two days getting her sugars up, it would have been a lot quicker and less stressful if I’d had some colostrum ready to go.

minipie · 13/02/2021 19:30

However yes for most women waiting till after birth is absolutely fine. I would only harvest colostrum on MW advice.

MyCatHatesOtherCats · 13/02/2021 19:39

I did it second time round on the advice of the hospital after a traumatic first birth - I had an EMCS and my milk didn’t come in for five days, by which time DC1 had lost an awful lot of weight. We ended up back in hospital.

Second time round, I started harvesting colostrum from 37 weeks and got quite a lot. Not much the first/second time (and it was really awkward to get it in the syringes) but it increased.

Naturally, second time round (ELCS), my milk came in on day 2 and DC2 seemed to know exactly what to do from the start. Hardly used any of the colostrum apart from on the second night at home when I gave him some (but more to assuage my anxiety, I suspect he would have been fine without). So it turned out to be totally unnecessary but it made me feel better to know I’d done what I could to ease the feeding situation in the first few days, if that makes sense.

crispychicken12 · 13/02/2021 19:43

Following because I want to do this for my baby, last time I had a lot of colostrum but I didn't harvest it as I had no clue about it

Original poster

HarvestingHelp · 13/02/2021 19:48

All, I am ready and taking in all your info, very thankful!

It has been on midwife advice, but they advise everyone to do this where I am, I think it's so there is some stocked up in case.

I'm 37 weeks, so at an ok stage to start harvesting.

OP posts:

LockdownLocks · 13/02/2021 19:49

It should start to kick in so you gradually get more. If you only started last night then it's normal to not get much first few days. Though not sure what date you're at and you definitely shouldn't start too early.

Once you're into the swing of it, try wrapping each breast in a hot flannel before hand and massaging round - it really helps. There are tutorials on various NHS sites.

To anyone wondering why bother, it's an incredibly helpful thing as you never know what could happen in hospital. In my case there was a traumatic situation and my baby very sadly couldn't latch in the postnatal ward. Midwives were too busy to help and no partner to help me due to Covid - it was awful and stressful. If I hadn't brought my syringes in and asked the nurse to keep them in the fridge for me, then my baby wouldn't have had any milk.

bluebluezoo · 13/02/2021 19:50

I plan on expressing to feed so I like the harvesting idea, as it starts a little supply off for in the hospital

Can I as why you plan to express to feed?

It’s really, really hard work. Good on you if you can manage it, but it’s pretty much quadrupling your workload!

Original poster

HarvestingHelp · 13/02/2021 20:24

@LockdownLocks

It should start to kick in so you gradually get more. If you only started last night then it's normal to not get much first few days. Though not sure what date you're at and you definitely shouldn't start too early.

Once you're into the swing of it, try wrapping each breast in a hot flannel before hand and massaging round - it really helps. There are tutorials on various NHS sites.

To anyone wondering why bother, it's an incredibly helpful thing as you never know what could happen in hospital. In my case there was a traumatic situation and my baby very sadly couldn't latch in the postnatal ward. Midwives were too busy to help and no partner to help me due to Covid - it was awful and stressful. If I hadn't brought my syringes in and asked the nurse to keep them in the fridge for me, then my baby wouldn't have had any milk.

Thanks. I did use the flannel and massage.

As mentioned, I'm not worried that it's only a small amount.

I just want to know if it's worth keeping less than 0.1ml whilst it's building up or shall I just bin that one.

I've put it in the freezer now and will ask the midwife. As one PP mentioned, it's "liquid gold" so probably best to keep.

OP posts:

Original poster

HarvestingHelp · 13/02/2021 20:24

@bluebluezoo

I plan on expressing to feed so I like the harvesting idea, as it starts a little supply off for in the hospital

Can I as why you plan to express to feed?

It’s really, really hard work. Good on you if you can manage it, but it’s pretty much quadrupling your workload!

Just personal preference. Express and formula mixed feeding.

OP posts:

Whatelsecouldibecalled · 13/02/2021 20:35

Have you watched videos on hand expressing? I didn’t realise there was a technique! I did it from 38 weeks. In the bath. Nice and relaxed. Warm cloth on breasts for 5/10 min first. Thinking happy thoughts. I collected very little at first but my 40 weeks I had 20 or so syringes full. We took them frozen to hospital. I was induced and needed surgery after birth so my husband gave our boy them when I was in surgery. And a little after

Whatelsecouldibecalled · 13/02/2021 20:36

I would keep 0.1ml