Colostrum harvesting 37 weeks

[Catlady12335678]

Hey ladies,

Im trying to produce and collect some colostrum before I’m inducted next week at 38 weeks.

I started two days ago, having a warm shower and following the c shape squeezing technique!

I’m getting a few little tiny droplets on my nipples but there’s absolutely no way there’s enough to collect at the moment.

I just wondered if there’s any tips, or can I expect to see the amount increase if I keep going this week?

thanks x

Following as I tried in my first pregnancy and got bugger all so hoping for more success this time.

I had DD1 at 38 weeks and establishing BF was so hard. I did persevere though and loved it, but the beginning....awful.

A hot water bottle/heatpack for a good while like 10-15 mins beforehand and tons of breast massage helped me. Massage in circular motions the whole way around the breast and also a kneading motion from edge of the breast towards the nipple. The more I did it the more I started to get. But equally lots of women don't get any until baby is here and the huge surge of oxytocin that comes with it. If you don't get much antenatally it's not an indication of low supply at all, it'll come eventually. Speaking of oxytocin, anything that can make you nice and relaxed while expressing can help too😊

You have to squeeze a lot harder than you think you do and it's extremely fiddly. I tried a few times antenatally and got a bit while looking at pics of the little outfits I'd ordered him off Vinted, but found it impossible to hoover it up with the syringe. It was only after he was born and the midwives did it for me (me and baby were both unwell so no BFing for a while) that a decent amount came out. They really had to manhandle my boobs to get it.

Good tips above. Just wanted to add that I got max 0.1ml when expressing colostrum and milk came in beautifully day 2/3 (Still had a slightly fraught breastfeeding journey thanks to a tongue tie). Don't panic if you never get much!

Good suggestions above. Just echoing - don't panic if it doesn't happen, it's not the be all and end all. I produced tons of colostrum but BF was a nightmare for us! They aren't really linked I don't think. Hoping it's smoother sailing this time round. Wishing you well in the next few weeks.

Congratulations OP. I would just encourage you to harvest every tiny droplet that appears., no matter how small. The little syringes go up by 0.1mls, and I would probably only get a couple of mls at a time for a number of days, but every little counts! Don’t be discouraged, as PP have said it’s not the be all and end all, and it doesn’t have any bearing on success for BFing. Good luck!

You'd be surprised how those tiny little drops add up. Those teeny little syringes they give you to harvest it get filled hilariously quickly with just a few drops.

Remember, the babies stomach is absolutely TINY at birth. You don't need much.

I tried lots and couldn't harvest any colostrum at all. Please don't worry, I had absolutely no problems with supply when baby came and was able to exclusively breastfeed successfully.