Pumping while pregnant

[Georgia2609]

Hi everyone, I was wondering for those of you who harvested colostrum while pregnant when you started, I asked my midwife when I was 35 weeks with my first and she told me I could start then but wondering if I can start before? My first was taken to the nicu for a couple days so I was so glad I had the colostrum to give to him through his tube rather than formula and want to do the same this time and I'm finding conflicting information online and my midwife isn't answering. I'm 32 weeks so wondering if I can start now or should I wait until I'm 35 weeks again, I'm being induced at 37 weeks so want at least a couple weeks to build some up. TIA

Check with your midwife but as nipple stimulation can trigger contractions I would assume she would want you to wait.

The general nhs advice is from 36 weeks as it can trigger contractions. I definitely wouldn’t start earlier

I find this harvesting colostrum whilst pregnant thing really odd and it just wasn't a thing even 6 years ago when my eldest was born. My twins were born by emergency c section at 34 weeks - I started hand expressing within hours of the birth and away we went

@Georgia2609 I was told at my NCT that it's a bit of a fad at the moment. Baby only needs it for 5 days tops and you can do it in the hospital if baby won't latch or you're struggling. Defo not recommended before 36 weeks.