Did your midwife speak to you about colostrum?

Hey I had an appointment today I'm 38 weeks and they give me lil jars to collect colostrum from not till birth. How far along are?

36+5 but I'm not seeing the community midwife again now

Do you have any other appointments from not till your due date?

Not with the community midwife. I've got consultant and growth scan next week then being induced the week after

My midwife never said anything either - I just ordered some off amazon - pack of 20

I think it's because it's not a necessity as if you're planning to breastfeed the baby will get the colostrum anyway and not everyone does it.

@Emma mention to your consultant and they might be able to provide you with something if you mention you wanna breastfeed your wee one

You can call your midwife and ask for another appointment to discuss it or ask for them to send you the syringes in the post and give you some info over the phone. She might have just not realised you wanted to do it

I asked my midwife but she didn't have any to give me, had to buy some online in the end

My midwife mentioned it at my birth planning appointment at 34 weeks because we had spoke a lot about breastfeeding and was given a pack of syringes at 36 weeks to collect from 37. You can also ask at the hospital where you have your growth scans because I’ve had to do that x

Thanks, I'll ask at the scan

I had to ask my midwife about collecting colostrum, I don’t think many discuss it with you unless you do. I could be wrong though with that as I always have different midwives every appointment I go to

Have you spoken a lot about your breastfeeding intentions? I’m not sure if it’s maybe just not something your trust does but I got my colostrum collection kit given at about 37wks. I’d actually started collecting already by that point but I had the breastfeeding support team out to get acquainted

@Jo nobody ever asked, but I saw a different midwife most appointments

@Emma Ah ok that is odd, I’m sure I’ve been asked at most appointments (also seen different people nearly every time) but they’re usually just confirming my notes and what I’ve put in my birth preferences which does mention BF frequently. Maybe if you’re discussing your birth preferences at your next appointment it will come up? Do you have an nhs app or physical notes? Definitely mention it if they don’t.

@Jo I don't have any more midwife appointments, I'm being induced the week after next

My midwife never mentioned it to me so I asked her at my appointment and she immediately produced colostrum collection kit and information pack, so might be just worth asking her

@Emma Ok I’d say just phone your midwife team and ask for it then to be honest x

@Emma I know I commented previously but my midwife had mentioned it to me at 34 weeks, at my 36 week appointment she was meant to give me some but didn’t have any so said she’d drop me some today, but she didn’t get the time. I managed to get a couple at my last growth scan from the maternity assessment unit (where the growth scans are) but it wasn’t enough as I also have no more midwife appointments (I’m being induced in 10 days time at 38+2) so I rang the community midwife office and they were able to leave a pack at MAU for me who also said if I need more between now and then to call and they’ll be able to provide more. Hopefully that means you’d be able to call the community team to get some but also your hospital should have some! If all else fails I know you can buy some off Amazon for about £6 xx