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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Harvesting colostrum

11 replies

FTM21 · 14/04/2023 14:50

Hiya

I have been trying to harvest colostrum the last couple of days since turning 37 weeks and today was the first day I have got a tiny little bit but not enough to put in a syringe.

Is this normal? Will I gradually get more the more I try?

Thanks for any advice.

OP posts:

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Youcancallmeirrelevant · 14/04/2023 14:51

Have you been told my mifwives to try and get some? I never had to express anything before either of my babies

quietnightmare · 14/04/2023 14:52

Agree with PP unless the midwife has told you too you don't need to worry about it

Original poster

FTM21 · 14/04/2023 14:55

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 14/04/2023 14:51

Have you been told my mifwives to try and get some? I never had to express anything before either of my babies

Yes the midwives have said if possible then you should give it ago.

OP posts:

Nejnej2 · 14/04/2023 15:00

I got a little more as I got closer to term. Never managed more than 0.1ml in one go, but no issues with my milk coming in once little one arrived

TomatoSandwiches · 14/04/2023 15:05

I managed to get 300ml, lots of breast massaging whilst double pumping on low suction.

bunnyrabbitsandbutterflies · 14/04/2023 15:05

quietnightmare · 14/04/2023 14:52

Agree with PP unless the midwife has told you too you don't need to worry about it

It is encouraged nowadays by midwives. They'll probably discourage it by next year!

bunnyrabbitsandbutterflies · 14/04/2023 15:10

FTM21 · 14/04/2023 14:50

Hiya

I have been trying to harvest colostrum the last couple of days since turning 37 weeks and today was the first day I have got a tiny little bit but not enough to put in a syringe.

Is this normal? Will I gradually get more the more I try?

Thanks for any advice.

I expressed when my baby was in NICU (before I'd even touched her let alone held her) and got 0.1ml every few hours at first. It felt like a waste of a syringe. Infact I could hardly get it into the syringe. I imagine it must be even more difficult before you've given birth so sounds like you're doing a great job.

Nursemumma92 · 14/04/2023 15:50

Yes this is totally normal. If you can't manage to express much by hand, don't worry. Babies are much more effective at getting the colostrum and it's no indicator of how much milk you have/will have.
You may find you get more the more you do it as with the 'supply and demand' of breastfeeding.

Sparklesocks · 14/04/2023 16:30

I had gestational diabetes and it was suggested I harvest some ahead of birth to give baby to help regulate her sugars, especially as I was also having a section. Found it really tough, managed to get a few drops per time but not really enough to fill a ‘section’ of the syringe so they all just stuck at the top. I think the stress of not managing more became a vicious cycle too, because I wasn’t comfortable and relaxed when trying. What made it worse was I joined a GD fb group and some of the women just banged out 3-4 full syringes while watching telly - felt like I must be terrible at this!!

but the reality is that it’s tough, some women manage loads and some don’t get anything, or a few drops. Keep trying if you want to but don’t stress yourself out. It’s no bearing on you and doesn’t suggest how hard/easy breastfeeding might be for you. I managed to express some by hand with the midwife’s help when I was in recovery, it wasn’t much but tied baby over. So don’t get too stressed if you can’t manage.

DappledThings · 14/04/2023 17:57

This is a very recent thing that's being advised, within the last 5 years. Seems to me like just something else to get women stressed out about and to start from a position of assuming there will be some complication that means syringe feeding is going to be required.

Hedwigharlot · 14/04/2023 19:07

If you have gestational diabetes then they recommend it as some nutrition to give a baby who might have low blood sugar when born. I have to admit I won't be doing it because I don't need something else to be stressing about. I'll bring some mini formula bottles to hospital in case breast feeding doesn't work.

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