Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pregnancy

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

Original poster

Colostrum harvesting

16 replies

Rbear9 · 26/03/2025 17:25

Hi all,

I’d like to start colostrum harvesting and my midwife has given me the go ahead for this; she’s provided a video and some syringes to do so, but I’m a little bit nervous. My breasts haven’t leaked at all and I’m nearly 37 weeks! I’m just concerned I might have a lack of supply and that it might hurt if I’m not naturally leaking anything.

Has anyone got any tips or advice, please?

Thank you!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Easterbunnygettingsorted · 26/03/2025 17:28

Imo I may not sure why this is a 'thing'.. When your dc arrives and needs it you will have colostrum.
Then when your dc is ready for milk, that will arrive also.

Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy and stop worrying...

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 26/03/2025 17:31

I never leaked either. It seems harmful to try and force things? When the baby is born you have colostrum for them naturally the first few days anyway. If you were leaking and it’s just not letting it go to waste, I’d understand harvesting it.

I didn’t have supply problems btw and never leaked not even after the baby arrived.

YouveGotAFastCar · 26/03/2025 17:31

I didn’t get any for my first… I also worried but I breastfed him fine until he was 2.5.

I’m 38 weeks with my second and have yet to properly try, but I’m hoping it’ll be a bit more successful second time around!

Don’t panic if you can’t get anything, though. It doesn’t mean anything.

Smallwins · 26/03/2025 17:39

The important part of colostrum harvesting is getting you comfortable with hand expression technique, it can help with many postnatal issues.
It also seems to 'prime' the supply, anecdotally I see people who have done it have a better flow earlier irrespective of whether they managed to express any antenatally.
Never read the research behind it but so wide spread must have been positive!

Original poster
Rbear9 · 26/03/2025 17:45

Smallwins · 26/03/2025 17:39

The important part of colostrum harvesting is getting you comfortable with hand expression technique, it can help with many postnatal issues.
It also seems to 'prime' the supply, anecdotally I see people who have done it have a better flow earlier irrespective of whether they managed to express any antenatally.
Never read the research behind it but so wide spread must have been positive!

Thank you! I agree wholeheartedly. I also think it takes the pressure off if baby struggles to latch or if they have a tongue tie etc and it ensures they’re getting breast milk rather than having to provide formula quickly if it’s a struggle at first. There are so many benefits to it and it’s why it’s something I’d really like to do! :) I also believe it helps regular blood sugar!

OP posts:
SomeOfMyChildrenAreFurry · 26/03/2025 18:36

Obviously can't speak for everyone, but what I find works best for me is a nice hot shower, concentrating the hot water on my chest.

As part of my wash routine, I use some of my body wash to do a bit of massage - not sure what the recommendations are, but I make a c shape and do a sort of downward sweeping motion with my thumb from upper chest to areola / nipple and then when I get out of the shower, I'm good to go.

You might just need to apply pressure to different areas of your breast to find what position works best for you.

Don't be disheartened if you don't get it straight away. It's a bit of a learning curve and it also might just take a while before it comes in - good luck! 😊

toastofthetown · 26/03/2025 18:58

I started at 37 weeks, and I hadn't leaked at all before (or since actually) but it was there. It took a week or too, but my supply actually increased quite a lot after expressing. I found this video with an actual boob really helpful - a lot of support videos are just knitted boobs. Trying rotating around your nipple might help, sometimes I'll get nothing, and then move around a couple of centimetres and find a lot!

Woodworm2020 · 26/03/2025 19:19

I found that it worked well for me after a shower and I was able to harvest quite a bit. It doesn’t hurt or anything like that, but you tend to only get a little to begin with and then more each time you try. In those first few days when there were some initial hiccups getting my baby to latch on it was really good to have as a backup and allowed me to persevere with BF. Good luck!

Okdaisy · 26/03/2025 19:23

Give it a go but don't stress if it doesn't happen. I leaked (excessively!) but could barely express at all and gave up

blackbadger · 26/03/2025 19:40

I couldn't get any with my first, but then had no issues breastfeeding at all. Though generally didn't leak throughout breastfeeding at all no matter what, even if full, crying child etc.
I haven't tried yet and am 31 weeks, I will try again as I agree I think it would be useful if any reason baby struggles to latch early on, or various other reasons.
Don't let it worry you though about the ability to breastfeed

SErunner · 26/03/2025 19:44

There isn’t any correlation between ability to express colostrum and success BF, so definitely don’t worry on that part. I had no difficulty expressing colostrum but really struggled with BF! If you can express some I think it is worthwhile, but as per others don’t stress if it doesn’t happen. I had to go to theatre post delivery and was away from our daughter for several hours so husband having some to feed was handy, but not essential. Best of luck.

MrsRandallFraser · 26/03/2025 20:33

I’ve not been storing it, I just tried out of pure curiosity at about 39 weeks.

I’ve found it much easier in the bath or shower, warmth definitely helps. It takes a few tries on each breast before I get anything. I’ve found if use the palm of the same hand on top of the breast and sort of push down towards the nipple and then using the other hand cup it in C shape under the breast and move up and in towards the nipple, that’s worked for me. Like I said it can take a few goes on each breast before anything happens but I usually manage to get something after that each time I do it.

I have absolutely no leakage outside of this and probably wouldn’t get anything if I wasn’t deliberately trying.

Even though I haven’t been collecting and storing, it has given me the confidence that I can hand express should I need to once baby is here.

PurBal · 26/03/2025 20:45

I did it for my second baby because my first had tongue tie and I had to top him up with formula (I had no issue doing this, but seemed to make sense to harvest colostrum just in case). The technique is the hardest thing, and the amount is small, but they only have tiny tummies.

Original poster
Rbear9 · 27/03/2025 20:28

Hi all, I just wanted to say a huge thank you for all of your advice! That video was hugely helpful and I’ve collected my first lot of colostrum! I’m so excited that I’m building up a supply in case we need it! Even though my breasts haven’t leaked, I had no issues harvesting colostrum and I am so excited to collect more!

OP posts:
Groundhogday2025 · 27/03/2025 21:02

I’m almost certain colostrum harvesting brought on my labour so make sure you’re hospital ready! Harvested on the Saturday, waters broke overnight 🤣

Catopia · 28/03/2025 18:49

I tried harvesting and got absolutely diddly squat and got myself quite upset and stressed about it. Baby latched as soon as born and despite some issues (tongue tie diagnosed late etc) we're 4 months EBF and going strong. Frankly, I wouldn't worry too much. either way.\

If you are harvesting, make sure you actually give it to baby - don't freeze it and forget about it (you'd be amazed...)

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread