Colostrum collecting
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I’ve read the same, usually from 36 weeks as it can cause labour. Would defo recommend checking with your midwife x
If it's coming out naturally, you can collect it. Otherwise, you shouldn't hand express until 36 weeks. So far, I've not had any (30+4) but I do plan to try and harvest at 36 weeks! I've had friends who haven't been successful in collecting any and went on to breastfeed, so don't see it as a negative if you don't get any!
We all produce colostrum from the second trimester, but it's not advised to hand express it until 36/37 weeks. It can also be hard to do and is no indication of your ability to BF/supply if you don't manage to before both 😊 x
Question? I've never collect colostrum before hand, can someone explain to me th3 reason you would. I've always just started breastfeeding as soon as they born but I keep seeing posts about colostrum.
@Natalie some women can't breastfeed so it's a way of collecting some beforehand so baby can get the colostrum. I've never done it before but I couldn't breastfeed my first son
@Natalie It can be useful if for whatever reason (either you or the baby) you can't breastfeed as soon as they're born and you still want them to have it from you. I never collected it, but my boy was struggling to latch the first couple of days, and at that point he was too hungry and I couldn't keep up with the hand expressing, so we gave him formula. It would've been useful for me to have some ready, but oh well 🤷♀️
@Natalie I've been advised by my midwife as I have GD.
Thanks for the advice everyone! ❤️
I'm pretty sure should be from 36/37 weeks onwards. Definitely shouldn't do it at 20 weeks as can induce labour