Colostrum harvesting - is it a really big deal?

[Baker0104]

I'm 36+3 and wondering how important colostrum harvesting is? I gave it a try today and nothing happened and my boobs just ache now 😔

I tried a few times because I was having a planned section so they were really keen incase DD wouldn't feed. I never got anything, and she latched just fine after she was born so it was irrelevant. I never got on with expressing either!

It's worth a try if you're keen but don't worry about it if it doesn't work out.

I tried from about 37 weeks, I got a tiny amount but found it too faffy to get into a syringe so didn't bother in the end.
I had a planned section and he latched on perfectly so it wasn't an issue for me.

This must be a new thing. My DC are grown now and I'd never heard of it till I read it on here. I wouldn't put yourself under any pressure to do it. It's the baby's sucking that stimulates the release of colostrum, so it'll be much easier after the birth.

I didn’t have any joy while pregnant, I had an emergency section and massive blood loss and DD struggled to latch but with the help of a (fucking awesome) midwifery assistant helped me get some drops out which sustained DD til my milk came in on day 3.
I wouldn’t worry.

I have 2 children (14 and 17) and was never advised to do this

I did it from 36 weeks prior to planned section with DC1. It was ridiculously slow - just the odd drip at first, but I did get more as time went on (worth noting you shouldn't be doing it to the point where your boobs get sore). BUT the quantities you need a tiny too, so although you don't feel like you are getting much, you really only need 5-10ml in total.

For me it was invaluable. DC really struggled to latch for the first few days so having the colostrum meant I didn't have to use formula.

I did it again for DC2, but didn't need it so mixed it in with expressed milk later on.

It seems to be a thing they are now pushing now. My midwife brought it up and suggested I started at 37wks. It wasn't the case with my first. I'm 37+2 today and I started on Monday. Got 0.1ml on Monday. Then 0.7ml on Tuesday and half that today. I am timing it just after my shower in the hopes that it is slightly easier when warm.

It shouldn't hurt though. I'm hoping it will become easier but I also appreciate only a small amount is required. If baby is struggling with their latch or tongue tied then I will definitely be grateful god having these syringes.

I would say if you really want to breastfeed and feel strongly about formula I would give it a try. Maybe watch a youtube video on the correct technique as it will make all the difference.

Some babies are very sleepy, if they wont latch and in the moment you struggle to produce colostrum it can be invaluable to have some stored in the freezer to use.
But saying that if you don't mind a bit of formula and think it's too much hassle I wouldnt bother. Everyone is different.

I breastfed until nearly a year and a half and never even attempted it.

Please don’t make yourself sore doing it. It shouldn’t be painful.

I did it every other day from about 36 weeks when I noticed that my body was making small quantities anyway. It gave me comfort that we had a stash in the freezer ready for when he was born. I also enjoyed doing it, I liked the feeling that I was doing something for him.

I think it helped after he was born because I already knew how to hand express which was useful for when my milk came in and I’d hand express to make it a bit easier for him to latch on.

Did it with DC2 after an awful breastfeeding experience with DC1 and it made a huge difference. I didn't end up using it (you've just reminded me it's still in the freezer ) but it gave me a huge confidence boost & I feel like it helped my milk come in (could all just be a coincidence though - different baby & all that).

Nice mix of experiences here thank you everyone.
I watches a couple of videos on YouTube and tried to copy the technique but I have quite large breasts so not sure if that's hindering me or not? I try to do the C shape with my hand but there's a lot of boob there to grab 😂

Never tried with either of my two. Actually never heard about it until Mumsnet!
Nothing is going to get the colostrum out better than the baby itself. I personally don’t see the point.

It's not uncommon to not get anything on your first few goes but regular nipple stimulation will help the colostrum to come over the next few days, keep going if its something you want to do OP!
But little and often rather than long sessions will help it not ache.

I want to try and do it. I’m having a section and really like the idea of being organised and having syringes there. I’m not overly keen on breastfeeding at the moment and not sure if my feelings on that will change when baby arrives but I’m hoping if I at least harvested colostrum I could use it while in the hospital. I go for a long bath every night and have seen you can put a warm flannel over your boobs to help it too so going to try that first. If I get to the stage nothings happening and it’s agony I’ll give up or try again nearer 39 weeks

Never tried it, vaguely remember it being mentioned at NCT but very much in a "it's something some people think of doing but not really important" way and that was less than 6 years ago. Seems to be pushed massively now.

I wouldn't bother should I find myself pregnant again.

I never managed to get a drop. Didn’t stop me from successfully breastfeeding. I think it’s good if you can get some, but not to worry if you can’t.

I do think you’re supposed to wait til 37 weeks though, in case it stimulates contractions.

I'm going to go against the norm and say do it if you can.

During my last weeks I was pumping to try and induce labour, it didnt do anything. I was getting small amounts in the pump but because I didn't know what to do with it, or thought it would be a waste to store such a small amount in a milk bag, I just poured it down the sink.

My little boy ended up NICU and I ended up in theatre after birth (not trying to scare, my son was born with a rare genetic condition thst we couldn't have known about and I lost a bit too much blood). I had been producing colostrum fine during pregnancy but after labour my body just shut down and I didn't produce much for about 4 or 5 days. My boy was on a drip and then donor milk as he got stronger.

I then struggled to keep up with his demand. I really wish I had kept all that milk that I had disposed of! If we do have another child I will absolutely be pumping in advance and saving any colostrum!!

Good grief. Now the breastfeeding is supposed to start BEFORE the baby is even born?! What madness is this???

No. It’s not necessary. Breast feed your baby if you want to, or don’t if you don’t. The worst thing you can do is waste brain space on such a tiny thing.

It's not madness at all, having some EBM ready in syringes can really help take the pressure off straight after delivery for those who want their baby to breastfeed. There are far worse things people can do than think about how they're going to feed their baby, no need to be so judgemental.

It only ever used to be recommended if you know you're likely to have a c-section, any problems feeding or a premature baby.

Nowadays they are presenting it as an option to anyone but it's definitely not essential.

My first had major breastfeeding issues and ended up hospitalised and hypoglycaemic and on formula at 2 days old (we did eventually recover breastfeeding but it was hard!). This time I’ll be harvesting colostrum to try to avoid similar. BUT If you don’t feel strongly about breastfeeding then don’t bother. I’ll be taking formula into the hospital too by the way, I’m not anti-formula I just want to have options to feed baby in case he’s sleepy/in NICU/won’t latch/milk not coming in.

After reading about it on MN i asked my midwife and she said unless there is a medical reason you can't BF leave your boobs alone and dont try harvesting.

I had a vaginal birth at over 41 weeks and a healthy baby but had a strong reaction to an infection immediately after with high fever etc... so Didn't manage to put baby on the boob until much later in the day.
She did latch but nothing was there. Even the doc tried to squeeze everyday but it wasn't happening. So on day 3 they decided to feed her formula to avoid excessive weight loss.
I was still putting her on the breast all day but we had to give a bottle too until day 5 when my milk came in force and since then haven't used any formula and she is 11 weeks 6kg and feeding like champ and my milk production is great.

I remember when they said we need to give formula i was so worried i wouldn't be able to BF and upset. But nature works just fine i think! And with baby sucking, even if it's a little late, the body gets the message! And formula for a couple of days did no harm for us. At least she wasn't starving anymore.

I ended up syringe feeding my first in the first few days because he was so sleepy - I hadn't done it before birth, but the midwives showed me how and brought me syringes and I just kept going and going. Really helped to get colostrum into him.

I did it beforehand with the second because I knew the technique and I thought it would be handy to have a pre-stash in case we had the same problems again. As it happened I got induced early so the stash wasn't very big, and DC2 was an alert, voracious little barracuda from day 1 so we didn't need it, but I gave it anyway.

Ds1 I didn't need to and he took straight to the breast even with a c-section birth.

My last two births were to premature babies and I had haversted some milk before the birth. It really helped calm the guilty feelings I had not being with my babies. Day two, after both births my breast dried up whilst changing from colostrum to normal milk.

It is a lot simpler getting normal milk compared to getting colostrum. I also had to build my supply up. The first day, I hardly got 1ml and the third day I was able to get 3ml (using both breasts (right breast had more milk)).