Colostrum Harvesting - No Success

[Catlady2202]

I’m nearly 37 weeks and my midwife gave me some syringes to start collection. I’ve tried two days now and not even a drop is coming. It’s like nothing is there. It feels really demoralising and I burst into tears afterwords which is the complete opposite of the oxytocin production I want.

I try after having a hot shower and I start off relaxed and then it becomes stressful. My boobs start to get a little itchy and ‘sore’ not painful and then so I know it’s time to stop.

i really planned on breastfeeding / I’ll be so upset if I can’t. And I know ‘fed is best’ but I just feel less of a woman for not getting any colostrum out and even more embarrassed that I get so upset during the process because I’m meant to be producing love hormones and instead I’m stressed.

has anyone had the same issue and breastfeeding was successful after baby was born?

It was you who suggested that something as medically unjustified for the majority of mothers is as simple and equivalent to popping out to collect a few groceries. Call it what you like, but a medical intervention (which is what colostrum harvesting before childbirth is) is not needed by most women and should not even be being presented to them as an option. It is overly complicating BF, when one of the benefits of that are not having to go and 'harvest' equipment. It also has a number of risks associated with it, including premature labour and milk contamination. It is well recognised that the more often a baby is put to the breast, the better chance of success with BF, including in the first hours after birth. Which is why feeding syringed colostrum is not needed except when there is a specific reason that a mother may not be able to feed immediately after birth.

In the rare situations where collecting colostrum is medically justified, those women should be properly supported, not just have a couple of syringes lobbed in their direction and left to crack on.

The fact that the OP of this thread has been in tears feeling the pressure and that she is going to fail at BF and is less of a woman because of this unscientific intervention is heartbreaking.

I think you are well capable of reading, considering the novels you are writing.

I specifically said that colostrum harvesting wasn't necessary and the OP just shouldn't do it if it's stressing her out, that it won't affect her breastfeeding journey and that some women choose to do it in case of emergency situations whereby they cannot latch or are not with their babies in the early hours or days and don't want to use formula for whatever reason.

I am merely responding to your ridiculous claims that this is a fad and providing the medical reasons why some people opt to do it.

You are making things up and reading between lines that don't exist.

What the hell even is this?! I’ve never heard of it and I fed 2 fine! they are older teens now so it must be a new thing.

I did do a bit of hand expression for my 2nd to try to bring on labour (it worked) but I wouldn’t have known what I was doing first time round and I didn’t save any of the meagre amount I produced!

This sounds bizarre. I had my kids ten and eight years ago and never heard anything about harvesting colostrum (in regional Australia, so maybe that's why!)
My son was born early by emergency c, I hadn't a drop of colostrum beforehand. My milk came straight in and he was an amazing feeder.

Being 37wks pregnant is enough to contend with without stressing about this as well. Relax OP, you're doing fine.

I never said going fad.. did I? No!
Sound familiar?

As I said, in my first reply on this thread, which you chose to engage with, I find it dystopian to use the word harvest in this context. I stand by that, it is like something out of the Handmaid's Tale.

Separately, I firmly believe it is unethical to encourage or even offer unrequired medical procedures. I am not clear why you are arguing with me on that, as you appear to be in agreement that it is only recommended in a minority of situations.

🤷‍♀️

Because the "recommended situations" need to be pre-empted.... you can't possibly know if you will have an emergency where you might not be able to feed. Unless as well as a condescending author, you're also a psychic medium?

Honestly - don’t bother. The pressure on breastfeeding is insane and your baby is not even born yet. Start breastfeeding when baby is here. No pressure. Honestly - no pressure. You’ll drive yourself insane. Xxx

OP, just to say if breastfeeding is important to you - use your time now to make a list of local resources - midwives can help but they’re so stretched timewise. We have a local breastfeeding cafe where you can speak to lactation consultants for free. I didn’t use a private lactation consultant but many friends found them invaluable so research local ones, or get recommendations. That will be far more helpful that trying to get colostrum jf you’re finding it stressful.

People have been having babies and breastfeeding for hundreds of thousands of years. I mean this kindly - how many of them do you think harvested colostrum? Your body knows what it's doing and it will show up for you when you need to breastfeed (most of the time), regardless of whether you're a western mum who has harvested colostrum or a mum in a developing country who doesn't have access to antenatal care and has never heard of colostrum in her life. Bin the syringes and focus on what makes you feel happy for the rest of your pregnancy. x

This makes me feel a bit sick, harvesting yourself before the baby is born. What a weird concept. I think this pressure on women to do these things is bizarre and abhorrant. Just feed the baby when it is actually here and try breast feeding then. If that doesnt work them there are bottles.
Don't make yourseldlf cry and feel ashamed because of this weird practice.

Honestly, what fresh hell is this colostrum harvesting.

I am furious that our midwives and others are now using this as another stick to beat women with.

You don't need that crap. Colostrum is good obviously, but a harvesting kit is not necessary. I have never heard of it until recently and me and billions of other women have successfully BF our babies without it.

You will have your baby. You will put it to your breast. It will take a few days to all kick in but your colostrum will turn up, and your milk start to work. If it doesn't you can find alternative ways to feed your baby and both be happy.

This really is unnecessary bullshit and stress on you.

My top tips for successful BFing (fed both for 1 year each);

1. Have a supportive partner, mum etc. Get them on board to support you. Bring you cushions, get you a drink, help you help your baby.

2. Treat the first 3 months as a 4th trimester. It's you and baby time. Don't let anyone distract you whilst you all settle down.

3. Ignore anyone with tips and opinions. Do your own research then ask someone you trust.

4. Be stubborn. I am feeding my baby, I don't care what anyone else thinks or has to say. This is what I am doing. So, f*ck off.

5. Keep stress at bay as it does affect the milk supply.

6. If you have milk that wants to come out, it really is very simple. Obviously some women have problems with it (although see points 1-5 as it is often this that is the problem), but if you have milk it really is as simple as sit down and put your boob in baby's mouth and don't worry about sterilising, bottles etc. Obviously boobs hurt a bit at first.

I was with someone the other day in a baby department and we saw a box on sale for collecting this. We both were aghast and said we thought it was quite dangerous. Why would you start messing around with your boobs, and triggering hormones before baby wants to naturally come out. Also, what about sterilising, germs holding it till baby comes along etc. The most hygienic and safe way to give baby colostrum is boob into baby's mouth after it is born.

Honestly, you new mums are actually being done a very disservice.

I exclusively breastfed both of mine and didn't have a drop of colostrum to harvest before that (in fact, when I was pregnant with my second, my milk dried up - which my then 3 year-old found most annoying)

I follow a farm on facebook - they don't harvest colostrum (if necessary at all) until the kids/lambs/calves are born. I'm sure that if this was a routinely good idea for humans, it would be a routinely good idea for goats/sheep/cows and farmers would be doing it.

I also exclusively breastfed my children and never tried this. Don’t stress yourself now! Not worth it.

I never tried to harvest colostrum. It was something that was discussed, but I never gave it a go. I never successfully pumped either. I still managed to breastfeed both my children for several years each. My DC were obviously much more efficient at getting the colostrum and milk out that I was!

I struggled to get colostrum for my last 2 babies. I'm also rubbish with a breast pump. I have fed all three babies for between 3-4 years each. I leak milk for the first good few months.

Your body really needs you to give birth to get the milk making process working full steam.

Absolutely this. If this is meant to encourage more breastfeeding by saying look you’ve given them the benefits of colostrum why not try and carry on it seems counterproductive for some

My milk/colostrum didn’t actually come in until
my baby had been out of the womb for around 3 days. I ended up giving him formula out of sheer panic and then I breastfed once it was in.

Even if you had ‘harvested’ colostrum wouldn't it be pretty rank if the baby is not born for another couple of weeks? Ugh. Just give it up op. Don’t stress yourself out for no good reason.

The vast majority of women who breast fed their children did not do this! It’s a very new concept, and the fact that it’s making you feel so bad is awful. Of course you will be able to breastfeed your baby! Just wait until your milk comes in after baby arrives, you’ll have milk galore. Try to relax and forget about it xx

The amount of ‘harvested colostrum’ that is produced is minuscule. It wouldn’t feed a baby for a day even!
Shock horror news alert - if a mother is unable to breast feed her baby, or doesn’t want to, then the baby will do very well thank you on formula.

A new born baby needs feeding, a mother in pain needs pain killers, an expectant mother does not need a plastic syringe and be made to feel shit if she can’t ‘harvest’ colostrum. Your examples are false equivalence.

When did I say a mother NEEDED a plastic syringe? I've repeatedly said its optional and if it causes stress to just not do it. I'm not sure why people only choose.to half read and pick what they want.

Try oats! I used to make smoothies with oats in and got absolutely loads of colostrum. Hospital were useless in giving it but I got it nonetheless!

Thank you so much everyone for your responses! I haven’t tried since posting especially after researching that this absolutely wasn’t a thing 10/20 years ago and it seems from the responses that this has no real indication of milk supply after baby is born.

definitely not worth stressing about at 37 weeks. Thank you for all you well wishes re the baby too. We are very excited :)