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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Harvesting Colostrum

12 replies

c307 · 27/07/2021 18:37

Can anyone help/advise on this please.

I have been given a set from the midwife with syringes etc and have given it a go, only got 0.2ml

How long can you add to a syringe before it needs to be frozen?

How much do you typically 'need' to go to hospital with?

How do you get more out? 😂

Sorry, I'm a massive beginner at this!

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sparklyblue81 · 27/07/2021 19:38

I’ve never done it before in my previous pregnancies but as far as I understand it, if you keep doing it several times a day, you will gradually get more. Newborns actually only take tiny amounts initially so don’t expect huge volumes. Colostrum is highly concentrated.

I presume storage wise it’s like when you pump & store actual milk, that you add to it over the course of 24 hours, storing in the fridge in between and then label with the date & freeze?

As for how much you need, you don’t need it at all. I’ve had three babies already & breastfed all of them perfectly successfully without anyone ever telling me colostrum harvesting was a thing so if you get some bonus, if you don’t manage it, don’t sweat it 😘

Hunkydory99 · 27/07/2021 20:00

Hi OP. I’ve never done it but apparently there are good videos online - as I’ve not done it I’ve not checked but could you do a google and see what comes up?

Peachee · 27/07/2021 20:07

Following with interest..

badatcrochet1996 · 27/07/2021 20:10

I probably wouldn't keep 0.2mls but would keep hand expressing until you get more and then store that.

Buzlightyear1 · 27/07/2021 20:59

Keep hand expressing, you only get tiny amounts at first. I stored mine in the fridge for no more than 24 hours then date and freeze. Try to do it after a bath or shower when you can relax, the more you do the more you will produce. I'm so glad I did as my son struggled to fee so I definitely needed it. With regards to how much you need I took everything I was able to as I didn't have easy access to my home. But talk to your midwife as I'm sure they will help.

I used to hand express into a small cup like the size of a egg cup and suck it up with the syringe. By the end I had about 30 syringe full . But everyone is difficult and what you get now is not what it will be like when they are born. So don't worry of uou don't get much

MoreThanRubies · 27/07/2021 21:08

I had my baby earlier in the year and just added over the course of a day, trying a couple of times a day, then froze it. Don’t worry if you don’t get a lot! I never got more than 1ml a day. BUT it was really useful to have learned the skill of hand expressing. My DD took a while to learn to latch and bring able to quickly hand express meant I could keep her topped up with syringes in the first 48 hours.

There are some great videos online - I liked the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals one. Get comfy and cosy, watch something lovely, think about your baby and get the oxytocin flowing! But don’t stress if you don’t get much, just think of it as an optional, useful skill. My supply only really ramped up after DD arrived. Good luck!

sarah13xx · 27/07/2021 21:21

This was the video I watched that was really good:

You can add to it from the fridge in that same day then it needs frozen (not in the door of the freezer). I’m just going to put it back into the sterile pack it came in and put that inside a zip lock bag with a label saying the date, my name and date of birth for when I’m in hospital. Apparently it starts off verrrrry slowly but quickly builds up. I’ve seen that on day 1 babies need 5-7ml per feed. It’s 1ml syringes I have but I’m thinking even if I can get 10 or 20 syringes I’ll be doing well 🙈 There’s a small chance it can cause contractions (and I’m having a section and really don’t want contractions before hand) so I’m not starting it that early just in case! 0.2ml sounds like a really good first attempt compared to a lot of things I’ve seen! On that video it says heat is the key so either a bath or a hot flannel first then massage before starting

Original poster

c307 · 28/07/2021 09:34

Aw thanks everyone for your replies ☺️ I will give it another go and see what I can get. And also watch the videos!

OP posts:

Original poster

c307 · 28/07/2021 10:57

@sarah13xx thanks for that video link! Just watched it and had another go and got 0.3ml in the one sitting feel much better about it now.

I'll do another 2/3 times today and hopefully fill the 1ml syringe for freezing

OP posts:

Amz6219 · 28/07/2021 12:01

I struggled at first and even in the end could only get anything out of the left one for some reason!

I just tried for 20 mins or so relaxed of an evening, each night and eventually I started filling the syringes :) don't panic if you don't get much to start with, just persevere and you'll get there

I took about 10 frozen syringes into hospital and they put them straight in the freezer their side. They were great - I had GD and an EMCS so they were a godsend in the recovery room when I was totally exhausted/delirious, and I definitely think it helped with baby's blood sugars. As soon as I was on the ward and a bit more relaxed etc. I started up BFing so the 10 syringes probably lasted a full morning x

birdglasspen · 28/07/2021 15:22

If you have the time then go for it, anything is worth it! I've also successfully breast fed two babies but if I had some already there for them it would have made post birth a lot easier, one didn't feed well at first after section and they wanted me to hand express when I had severe fatigue, ended up emptying out what little I got from syringe by mistake and being most upset! Second time baby in neonatal they were feeding him bottle from tube by time I could see him, again trying to hand express while shattered, on a ward with other babies, my own in neonatal was not pleasant! Third time round and I've just managed 0.3ml and I'm just going to keep doing it to get whatever I can ......might not need it but have nothing better to do as stuck in hospital! They are taking any I get and freezing it as it is. See if you can get chi number labels to label yours with. Midwife here said to try every 3 hours, 20mins on each side not sure I'll manage that often but will try!

sarah13xx · 28/07/2021 17:18

@c307 aw good! 😊 I think once you get to 1ml it seems to get much easier and people say they could fill 1ml syringes easily at a time. I’ve tested a few times in the bath to see if there was much there to come out and haven’t been able to get anything but going to start properly this weekend. Was considering getting the lansinoh hot and cold pack that you can also use after. I’m not breastfeeding so was going to use them frozen when my milk comes in if it’s hot/sore feeling. Thought that on them warm would maybe help before starting

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