Expressing pre birth

[sleepyhoglet]

Had my 36 week appointment today and midwife gave me syringes and suggested that I try to express. Has anyone done this? I haven't had any leaking so would be surprised if it works and definitely didn't do this with my first baby

Following, as I also want to know!

I've just ordered a colostrum harvesting kit from My Expert Midwife and plan to start after Xmas Day trying

I've been doing it since 36+4! I'm 38+5 and have 24ml frozen so far.

My first wouldn't latch and ended up hypoglycaemic and having formula, so I want to avoid that this time. I didn't think I'd get any but I get 1-2ml each day.

I had to be induced with my first pregnancy and went into hospital 34+3. I managed to express a few syringes a day or two before my boy came. I was amazed when it worked! It was great that I was able to top up what my baby was getting.

I tried expressing at 37+4 and didnt manage to produce anything that night. But i then had spontaneous rupture of membrances at 37+6 and DD was born at 38w exactly. Was not at all ready! I read afterwards that nipple stimulation is one way to bring on labour and im sure that's what led to my labour now. So my advice would be to give it a try but make sure your hospital bag is packed (my wasn't fully finished!!)

Membrances?! Obviously i meant membranes!

I'm definitely keen to try once I reach 37 weeks and I have a couple of syringes ready.
There's all sorts of reasons why having a little colostrum stash by the time you give birth might come in handy, and I know it can take several days of trying until you can collect anything but I'm keen to have a go. There's some good videos demonstrating how on ytube

I was dry as a desert until after birth with all my DC.
Even when I was breastfeeding, never got the hang of expressing it.
So don’t feel any pressure to express now. Even if nothing, doesn’t mean your colostrum won’t be there after birth or that your milk will not come in.

I didn't leak and struggled to get much out of one boob. I was worried this would reflect my supply but It hasn't so dw if you can't get any. Also they didn't use what I had brought into the hospital and I did some when I was in there so unless you're high risk or have GD I wouldn't worry too much x

I tried this with my first and just couldn't get anything. No reflection on supply. I think if you're high risk/have GD it's worth persevering. Otherwise I wouldn't bother and I'm not this time. I truly hated expressing though so that's probably swaying my opinion.

I tried tonight for the first time and got 0.5ml (half a syringe). It wasn't too bad!

I was in hospital for a few days before baby was born at 36 weeks, so I had time. I did some harvesting, in all honesty I found it so so hard whilst pregnant, but significantly easier once the baby arrived, I found whilst pregnant you had to squeeze in exactly the right place and pressure but after birth the nipples are more forgiving 😂 it was very useful to have though as my baby had trouble feeding so I was able to give her the colostrum syringes whilst we got sorted.