Chance of colostrum harvesting bringing on labour?

[trrk]

I'm 36w+ pregnant and expecting to have my baby by ELCS at 38w2d. My widwife has suggested harvesting colostrum prior to the C-section, especially recommended as I have gestational diabetes. I was thinking of trying now that I'm off work and have a bit more time but I've heard it can bring on labour and I'm a bit stressed about the thought of going labour naturally due to baby still being breach. Originally I just picked the ELCS over an induction as I didn't want to go through the induction and had been open to a VB if things happened earlier. Now she's still breach and doesn't seem likely to turn so I'm really hoping she will just wait until the date of my ELCS. Am I worrying for nothing or is there a significant chance of colostrum harvesting bringing on labour?

What does your midwife say on this?

in all likelihood you will not produce any at this stage or a minute amount anyway

I forgot to ask actually and now I have no more appointments. I can try to get hold of them but it it can be a bit tricky getting through (answerphone and don't always get a response).

Yes get a medical opinion op

but doubt she’d have suggested it if brought on early labour in your situation

In any event
manage your expectations re how much you’d likely produce at this stage!

I had a c section at 36 weeks bang on, 'elective' (only option), and I was advised I could collect but not until the day before so I harvested a few times during the day/night and in the morning before going to hospital and had more than enough for baby. It is true that it can bring on labour, hence I was advised to not do it until the day before.

I had a planned section at 37+2 for breech/PPROM and collected colostrum for about a week-10 days before hand. It was slow going at first but in the end I took in about 20 1ml syringes (which they considered to be quite a bit). No signs of labour at all!

I doubt your midwife would have recommended it if she had any concerns.

Why would this be true? Women have colostrum in their breasts from about 20 weeks of pregnancy. It's as there at 36 weeks as it is at 40.

Colostrum is always in tiny amounts, but each tiny amount is valuable.

As I understand it, there is a weak but proven relationship between nipple stimulation and the onset of labour, but you would probably have to be doing quite a lot to start labour unless your body was right on the cusp anyway. I think it depends on whether there are any issues that would make it a problem for your baby to be born at this stage but if your midwife suggested it, she presumably regards the risk as minimal.

It will only bring on labour if your body is ready for it, nipple stimulation is something that can trigger labour but lots of women try it and it does nothing!
However if it did do anything for you, your hospital would likely section you anyway so you wouldn't actually go through labour! If you can get some colostrum and your midwife has said you can then you'll be fine to do so!

Thanks all. I’ll try to get through to the midwives. I’m not sure if the midwife recommending it knew my baby was breach, seemed to just be generic advice for everyone with GD and I didn’t realise the possible link with bringing on labour at the time.

I know I would probably get the section anyway if I went into labour but just a bit worried about it happening too quickly or there not being space in theatre at the right time. Consultant did say if I came in with advanced labour it could be too late for a C-section I would need to go through with the VB which terrifies me due to the breach aspect. Guess it’s pretty unlikely for labour to be so quick with a first baby.

I harvested for weeks and it didn't bring on labour.

My friend had her nipples tweaked by a midwife to help start Labour although it didn't work.

I breastfed my 1 yo through out pregnancy and my youngest was ridiculously late emerging. So definitely didn't work for me.

It's definitely considered 'a thing' so you're right to be wary, but if you're actually trying to kickstart Labour all the raspberry leaf tea, bouncing on a ball, hot curries, pineapple juice and long walks are in vain in my (unprofessional) opinion.

Good luck!

Very low risk of causing contractions unless your body is ready to go into labour. Plenty of mums breastfeed through pregnancy without any difficulty. Also bear in mind that having sex produces much stronger uterine contractions than nipple stimulation - if you haven’t been told to avoid dtd then expressing a bit of colostrum is a great idea.
Expressing colostrum from 36 weeks is really standard advice if you have GDM so go for it!