Transverse baby - Can I still harvest colostrum

It's no more risky than any other position!

I wouldn’t as I believe going into labour and breaking waters is classed as a medical emergency because of the risk of cord prolapse x

@Caroline I was advised they may need to make a bigger incision and therefore bleeding is a higher risk and also risk of them injuring the baby whilst getting her out, fractures or dislocation. They also said about cord prolapse being a worry if I go into labour naturally before my C section 😩

My baby was breech and I didn't do it to avoid early labour. Once the baby was born the hormones kicked in and my colostrum started coming. I'd harvest in between his sleeps and give him the syringes once he woke up. It is surprising how little they actually need those first few days. By doing this my baby barely lost any weight. So from my experience, better not risk it, and you'll be absolutely fine just harvesting once the baby is born. Good luck with everything 😊 x

@Victoria I mean harvesting colostrum is no more risky than baby being in any other position. If you go into labour they'd just do your c-section sooner. Hopefully baby moves in time for your c-section! If it helps, mine was all over the place until about 40 weeks and he came at 41.

My baby is transverse I have the midwife tomorrow I was going to ask the same question as I am booked in for a section next week

@Jennie could you let me know what they say please? I’ve heard mixed things

@Caroline there’s a higher risk of cord prolapse with transverse

The only advice I've seen is to avoid harvesting colostrum if you've got other factors/indicators that you might go into pre-term labour. Babys position shouldn't affect whether you go into preterm labour and it's not something thats been mentioned in my antenatal class when they discussed colostrum harvesting but if you're worried just drop your midwife a message? X

@Rebecca is that linked to harvesting colostrum?

I’m in a similar position - my baby is in an odd position between transverse and footling breech, and if waters break there’s a risk of cord prolapse. I’m booked for my c section and midwife suggested harvesting colostrum in case my milk is delayed. I was worried too about the risk of that prompting labour and waters breaking. I’ve been told it’s an emergency situation if my waters break due to the risk of cord prolapse. However, the chance of harvesting colostrum prompting labour is so low I have decided to start trying to do it (haven’t managed to get any yet). But I did a fair bit of research and weighing up the risks of labour starting compared to the risk of milk being delayed before making a decision. So I would say it is safe, but you’d have to weigh up the risks and make a decision if it’s worth the risks for you in your circumstances.

I woukd say no, I had a transverse baby at 37 weeks I had to stay in hospital for 5 days until my csection (because he was transverse). It’s really dangerous to go into labour with a transverse baby. So I just woudknt risk it

@Victoria spoke to my midwife and she said if I am worried about going into preterm labour don’t do it so I have decided I am not going to chance it as I don’t want to risk it x

@Jennie thanks Jennie, so many mixed messages. I rang the hospital yesterday and they said it was fine to do 😩

@Caroline sorry, should have been clearer. Colostrum harvesting can prompt labour (low risk, other factors need to be in place, but can happen) and if labour starts and your waters break, and your baby is transverse there's a higher risk of cord prolapse. So if you're baby is transverse and you start harvesting colustrum that's potentially riskier in terms of the impact of labour starting, waters breaking than if you're baby is head down and labour can start safely it your waters did break due to labour being promoted by harvesting colustrum.

@Victoria have you heard of the BRAIN framework for clinical decision making? I've used it through out my high risk pregnancy and found it useful. For every decision you need to make you ask yourself: B - what are the Benefits? R - what are the Risks? A - are there any Alternatives? I - what does your Instinct tell you? N - what happens if you do Nothing? When I was deciding whether to harvest colustrum or not, it looked like this for me: B - Benefits are having colustrum to feed baby with for the the interim if milk is delayed coming in R - Risks are could prompt labour (but low risk), but if waters do break risk of cord prolapse is a high risk A - Alternative is that I could give baby formula in the interim if my milk is delayed. Also, milk might not be delayed. I - My instinct told me I felt ok with it N - if I did nothing, I'm not increasing my chances of prompting labour, but baby might not have anything to feed on if milk is delayed.

@Rebecca Thanks, that’s really helpful ☺️

@Victoria ran out of characters but wanted to add the different things to consider and answers you come up with if you use the BRAIN framework will look very different to mine! Everyone is different and feels differently, has different concerns. But it's a technique I've found useful throughout with the many difficult decisions I've had to make and so much conflicting information! So thought I'd share in case it's helpful, but of course you also don't have to use it.