Colostrum harvesting help!

The last thing you need is to feel upset. The MW will say this but if you’re unable to get any - pls don’t worry yourself. I’m not even trying!

My advice is don’t stress about having colostrum on hand. I was upset when I couldn’t express enough to harvest, but in the end (he was supplemented with formula ONLY because he had lost most of his brown fat in utero) I made enough colostrum to stabilize his blood sugar, and if it weren’t for the dramatics at the end of pregnancy, he would have been fine with what I produced.

Mother's have been giving birth and feeding their children for millenia without harvesting colostrum. It's a new fad (in my opinion) and has no bearing on if you will or won't be able to breastfeed. If it's too hard and stressing you out too much as you are unable to collect then don't do it! For many many many women they need the release of the placenta to be able to allow their colostrum to start to flow. When baby gets here ask for skin to skin immediately and help to try to latch if you have difficulty.

I did similar, tried for first time yesterday and got about 1ml which i was really pleased with then this morning didn't even make it to 0.05ml 😅 thinking it could be time of day or environment as was warmer and more relaxed last night. Or the supply just hasn't replenished yet? Going to try again this eve... good luck!

Nice you got almost 1ml on your first try! Perhaps try doing it after a warm shower and when you’re relaxed. I’ve been told you need to be relaxed for it happen a bit easier☺️ I’m sure you’ll be able to get more just don’t put the pressure on yourself 1ml is fab and it’s more about learning how to self express before hand incase you need to when baby is here which it sounds like your on the right track. I also have GD and planning to start harvesting in just a few days. Breathe, get into your calm relaxed space and try again and if it doesn’t work that ok too💜💜💜

Definitely need to be relaxed, try after a warm bath or shower & massage breasts. Get comfy good podcast, audio book / playlist to listen to! I expressed onto a tea spoon and used the syringe to suck up from there but don’t worry if you can’t get any yet! You know you have colostrum & baby will be able to latch & get it once they’re here. Don’t let it upset you xx

@Chrissy 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼THIS.

I went to a breastfeed class the other week, they said some people don’t produce it and it’s completely normal! It dosnt mean you won’t be able to breast feed. Colostrum is produced based on your placenta and some people’s placentas just stop your producing it! Don’t stress about it!!

It took me 3/4 tries to be able to collect syringes, i used to do it sat in the bath and i also thought it wasnt going to happen and after practising and watching videos i found the right hand movement and it finally happened. I expressed everytime i had a bath then got sick of it. I only collected about 6 syringes, not all full to the brim and i used 4 during very early feeding before my milk came in. I stressed about it when i really didnt need to so dont be harsh on yourself at all

Please don’t stress too much. I went to hard because I was worried about getting it and I went into labour at 37+4. Your baby will get everything they need when they arrive though you naturally

I didn’t express any colostrum before I gave birth and my 6 month old is thriving and we are still fully breast feeding. Make sure you’re relaxed, gentle breast massage and if it’s not happening, try again later ❤️

I didn’t have one drop of colostrum, I tried everything. When I delivered at 41+5 and my LO breastfed like a little champ. My supply is great, I only EBF and my advice is .. not to worry about it

My bad my child typed that my bad 🫢

Please don’t worry. Baby will latch and get the colostrum straight from the breast. I’ve had two babies and never harvested any and I breastfed without any major issues.

The way to get it coming is by being relaxed and having those endorphins going I use to do it while in the bath eating chocolate 😅 it took me like an hour or more to start with but I tried every day and it got to be more and more so I got 2ml a time eventually. Try massaging the breasts first too x

I didn’t start harvesting until I was trying to induce labour after 40 weeks (it didn’t work). I was pumping every day and actually was getting about 5-10ml once a day. I had tried hand expressing earlier and was lucky to get a few beads of colostrum . Like 0.01ml. I wasn’t really intending on harvesting colostrum but more just wanted to induce labour. I kept all of it but didn’t actually end up using any of it. Maybe if you are cleared for pumping you could do that to build a little stash if that’s something that you want?

I got no colostrum when I was pregnant but as soon as I gave birth I had plenty!

I did this and found it was only useful because I was separated from my baby for a short time to go to theatre. It gave my partner something to do while I was gone but that was literally about 40mins. Not sure I’d bother next time, loads of work for about 4mls and my girl had no problem latching on and getting it herself anyway.