Colostrum leaking at 27 weeks

[XenaD]

I'm currently 27 weeks - first time mum to be - and noticed my colostrum has started leaking in tiny amounts, but dry - is this normal?

I've seen that you should start collecting colostrum at 36 weeks, but why is this the timeframe given, and not beforehand, if you're already leaking it? I've read various bits of advice - including that it's a myth that hand expressing can induce early labor - so unsure on what to listen to.

Of course, mine is dry at the moment so can't exactly collect that right now anyway, but just wondered if it would be safe to once it starts to leak properly?

but why is this the timeframe given, and not beforehand

I'm guessing because it won't last very long, even in the fridge

You can freeze it so that wouldn't be an issue.

I started expressing it at around 25 weeks, the midwife ok'd it as I was still feeding DC1 so my body was used to the stimulation so unlikely to cause labour. I wouldn't like to personally recommend doing it so early when not already lactating though.

You don't need to collect colostrum from 36 weeks, if I remember correctly it's sometimes advised if you have GD. My boobs went mad from about 14 weeks, I always had a wee yellow crystal on each nipple when I was taking my bra off at night, but nothing substantial. I tried desperately to induce labour at 41 weeks before my actual induction by trying to express, but it didn't help at all. When my baby was born, colostrum was plentiful, and when my milk came in on day 3 we were flying.