Colostrum harvesting

[localbunny]

Anyone had any success with colostrum harvesting/have any tips?

I started collecting at 37 weeks when pregnant with my daughter, I would always do it when I had just got out the bath so was warm & never had any issues. But that said I had started leaking at about 27/28 weeks pregnant and by the time I got to 37 weeks I was really leaking quite a lot so it wasn’t as if I had to go to any great effort to collect it

Buy a load of 1ml sterile syringes online and freeze them. As ppl said, after bath/shower is easiest.

Don't be put off if you don't get a lot! Tiny amounts are normal

The midwives were really pleased that I'd harvested and brought in frozen - little one didn't drink much straight after birth so it was great to be able to give him the colostrum

As above heat helps, and for me loads of breast massage helped a lot. Massage the entire breast in circular motions. Then using your knuckles massage downwards towards the nipple. When I had time to do it properly and massage for like 5-10 mins that's when I got most. If I didn't massage I'd get barely anything.

And just to add to what everyone else has said. DO make sure your hospital bag is ready first. I found harvesting slow going at first, day 2 I got the flow and managed a whole syringe in one go… went into labour that night 😂

Even if you don’t get much before the birth, having the skill to hand express is valuable. If your baby is struggling to feed well in the first few days you can express a syringe of colostrum after each feed and (gently!) squirt it into the baby - we did this with DD2 and it helped her regain some weight while she was learning to feed and before my milk came in.

I did but only after I had my 3 babies and none of them latched. I couldn't be doing with starting before birth, make the most of your child-free time! Your baby may latch immediately and you won't need it?

It sounds a bit hippy but as well as the practical stuff I’ve loved taking it as a chance for some self care and treating it like a little ritual. I light a nice candle, put on some relaxing music, put a warm flannel on my boobs and do a little massage. I think of it as an opportunity to be mindful, connect with my body etc, which I haven’t had much chance to do this pregnancy due to work stress and being really busy. This all creates the environment of safety and relaxation which gets the oxytocin flowing and helps with expression. So there’s some science to it as well! If I’m not getting much or my boobs get sore I just leave it. I don’t see any point in it becoming a stressful thing. I try again another time and it usually goes better. And if I don’t feel like it that day I just leave it. No point in putting any more pressure on ourselves and our bodies. I think of it as a nice to have, not an essential.

Definitely, definitely massage. Midwife told me that even if you can’t collect anything, the massage will be stimulating the tissues and milk production. I couldn’t get any with DD1, got quite a bit for DD2 and used most of it.

Date the syringes so you know which to use first, and remember to label the bag for when you take them in to hospital!

Thanks all. I've tried a couple of times but got nothing so far... wondered if that was normal and if I should keep trying! Will try more massage and heat and see how I go 🤞🏻

Hey I’m 38+3 and have just cracked it I think. I started at 36 with no luck at all. I then talked to my midwife and she offered to show me how to do it (on me) and it instantly came out. Having it done to me helped so much. I don’t think I would have got it otherwise. You don’t get much so don’t be disheartened with small amounts- I’ve got up to about 3ml a session which I do daily-ish, but I got a lot less in the beginning. Hope this helps and good luck.

I couldn't get the hang of it tbh nothing was really coming out, but then as soon as he was born I had no issues breastfeeding. So don't be discouraged! It doesn't mean you will have a low supply. In fact if anything, I ended up with an over supply and it shooting across the room in the early weeks!

I agree with this, I didn't get much. I think the most in a session was 0.2ml but it did teach me how to hand express which was very useful when my milk came in on day 2 and I was engorged and in discomfort!

I also went into labour the day I tried to do it more so I didn't get a whole lot of time to practice!

I’ve also found it takes me a few goes of the C shape, squeezing action to really get anything. So maybe give it 2 or 3 goes alternating each breast. I do definitely get the best results after massage with hot flannel though.

I never managed to get any but after baby was born, I was able to breastfeed.

I did with DC2. I started at 37 weeks. I put a warm flannel on the breast. Them massaged from the top of the breast downwards towards the nipple. Then, I did a c shape around the nipple and squeezed gently. I did that every few hours. I got a few syringes. Make sure you correctly label them with your name and date harvested if you intend on taking them to hospital. Tbh, I didn't actually use mine, but my milk came in much quicker with DC2. I think because I did the harvesting. I was also able to feed longer than I managed with DC1.

I tired but couldn't get any. When baby was born, he had to go into NICU. I wanted to BF and while I was in recovery (from c section) a midwife successfully hand expressed 2 syringes from me. This kept baby going until I was able to start feeding. I BF fed no problem, had a great supply. So don't worry if you can't get any pre birth.