How much colostrum should I collect?

[Epli]

I am 37+2 and have just started collecting colostrum. My midwife gave me 2 syringes to start with, and told me not to pressure myself too much, but I filled one syringe very easily first time I tried. I did not find any clear guidelines about the total amount of colostrum I should collect before the delivery - should I am for 1 or 2 days of average intake? Or just follow the midwife, fill in the second syringe and wait till she supplies me with new ones when I see her at 38w?

I don't think there's any amount you should collect. From what I've read and watched 1 syringe in one sitting is really good!

I have never heard of collecting colostrum prior to birth. Why have you been told to do that?

A lot of women (including me!) cant get any before birth, so 1 syringe already is amazing! Well done! I would just fill up what you've got, freeze them and then ask for loads more syringes at your next appointment. If you dont use what you collect, then there is no problem.

Side note, but im pretty sure that attempting colostrum harvesting at 37 + 4 is what brought on my labour at 37 + 5 so make sure you have your hospital bag packed! I had not...

I collected 6 syringes and was pretty clueless about amounts etc, I was taken to theatre after birth and my partner was able to them to our daughter, I wish I'd done tonnes more as my body went into shock and I didn't produce anything for about 4 days after she was born by which time she had already established bottle feeding and we were unable to make the switch to breast feeding. I'm 28 weeks now and will be collecting as many as possible this time!

@Hyggemama

I have never heard of collecting colostrum prior to birth. Why have you been told to do that?

@Hyggemama it can be useful for lots of different reasons - if you have gestational diabetes or are taking meds for high BP, it can help to stabilise baby's blood sugars after birth. I was advised to give it a go because my baby was SGA so any extra help she could get to put on weight after birth was going to be good for her.

I filled about 5 syringes which I froze. Ended up using them when DD was sick a couple of times. She actually had an eye infection straight after birth which wasn’t clearing up with drops. Health visitor suggested using the colostrum on it, which cleared it completely. I wish I had done some more so I’d say do as much as you can without it being a hassle to you.

How big should the syringes be? Thinking about doing it myself. Does it help with breastfeeding in general?

@MollyRover

How big should the syringes be? Thinking about doing it myself. Does it help with breastfeeding in general?

I was given these syringes by my midwife.

I don't think the idea is to help with breastfeeding. The aim is to have a supply in case of emergency or troubles with breastfeeding (for example my friend's baby did not want to latch and stored colostrum helped a lot with initial feeding, especially since mum was exhausted after an emergency CS). In my trust (Essex) the midwifes routinely discuss colostrum harvesting around 36-37 week appointment (I think expressing earlier is not recommended for majority of pregnancies).

I don't think the idea is to help with breastfeeding. The aim is to have a supply in case of emergency or troubles with breastfeeding

Sorry, long day, this was probably not very clear - AFAIK expressing colostrum or even ability to express it before the baby is born does not influence whether you are going to be able to breastfeed your child or the milk supply. You don't express it to make it easier for you to breastfeed in general or to prepare yourself for breastfeeding.

You collect colostrum if you plan to breastfeed in order to have some supply in case there are some issues just after birth like tongue tie, baby not latching, mum not able to breastfeed due to complications or other health related indications. Even if baby has to go on formula in early days, it is be possible to mix feed using colostrum, so she is getting a bit of those essential nutrients that normally come when breastfed.

I need some sleep xD

I am in a different trust and this has never been mentioned to myself or any of my friends nearby. I wonder if our trust is a little “behind the times” with regards to this advice. Thanks for explaining

Thanks for the advice @Epli ,best do some more research and talk to my midwives. I can't access that link because I'm not in the UK, how many mls?

I was given around 10 syringes and have collected and frozen them ready for birth should they be needed ☺️

Just to add to this thread incase anyone was wondering , harvesting colostrum antenatally will not impact availability of colostrum post birth so don’t worry about taking too much out .

@MollyRover any 1ml enteral syringe will do! Ideally ones with caps so you can freeze them more easily.

Antenatal colostrum harvesting is a good idea in terms of having a back up to supplement what baby will get directly from the breast. What you don’t want to do is give birth and immediately fill baby with antenatally harvested colostrum (unless there are very specific circumstances such as mum being unwell etc), because this will affect your milk supply. If you don’t ask (your boobs to make milk), you don’t get. You want to be putting baby to the breast as often as possible to get the colostrum directly from you and tell your breasts to start transitioning from colostrum to milk (the process of ‘milk coming in’).

I hope that makes sense and good luck to all mums-to-be harvesting colostrum and planning to breastfeed :)

I had a planned ELCS at 37+2 (due to breech and PPROM at around 35 weeks) and started collecting once I knew the section date, advised by my doula. It was slow at first but eventually I could get a 1ml syringe from each side twice per day. I took in about 22 syringes (the two I was initially given and two more packs I bought on Amazon (midwife failed to drop more off to me after I asked!). They'd never seen anyone bring in as many syringes as that before!

We used them all as DS had a severe tongue tie and we struggled with latching. What it did help with was that I knew already how to hand express until my milk came in and I could use the pump instead.

Good luck OP!

Just be careful if you're buying on Amazon to get food grade not craft grade. Or buy from a pharmacy to avoid confusion.

@BertieBotts

Just be careful if you're buying on Amazon to get food grade not craft grade. Or buy from a pharmacy to avoid confusion.

Thanks @BertieBotts, good to remember that. DH works in a company with a health department so may be able to pinch something suitable but otherwise I'm just going to check the local pharmacy.