Colostrum

Omg ladies I've just had my first attempt at harvesting colostrum at 38 weeks and got about 0.4 ml! I'm so chuffed, thought the first time I would get nothing...

Just want to ask, top tips for not just sucking up air into the syringe? And are you expressing into a spoon or something or just sucking up the drops from your nipple?

Also am I right in thinking I can store in the fridge for up to 24 hours before freezing?

Thank you!

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I find it’s too difficult to syringe straight from the nipple so I wait until I’ve collected 3/4 of a sterilised teaspoon then suck it into the syringe. When I tried straight from nipple it ended up more air bubbles or I kept missing drops which was so frustrating because every drop counts 😂 yes I read the rule is 24 hours in the fridge before freezing x

Aw thanks @Sarah yeah I might try and sterilise a spoon next time! I was not prepared for the difficulty of sucking it up...or even getting any out haha! Thank you

It’s quite tricky isn’t it 😅 but a real sense of accomplishment when we get some! Good luck 😊

Heyya I do it directly into the syringe! It definetly took practice but I find it very easy now (on day 8 of doing it). And yes 24hrs in the fridge!

I’ve done it on to a sterilised spoon then sucked it up and sort of flicked the air out of it. I tried doing it directly into the syringe but I couldn’t master it so the spoon is my suggestion! X

No! I’ve been told to throw out my colostrum because of this fridge thing.
Freeze it. Yes it can be in the fridge; but only if it’s getting used in six hours.

(I was told this by a midwife at my elective c section pre surgery appointment so I was pretty gutted)

So for tips, try to get a large sized droplet to form before you try to syringe it. Then I get the syringe and move it up and down to pop any air bubble out. Move the syringe back up before you use it to suck up the next drop, so there's less air. And gradually you make your way down the syringe.

I'm using ones from amazon now but started with the 4 from the hospital which were a bit different and it was easier to just scoop up the droplet so try that too.

You can also put the cap on the syringe and take the handle all the way out and just try to pour the droplet directly in from your nipple if easier

yeah that’s what I was told first, so I was collecting and practising, thinking I could add to the syringe during the day and THEN freeze it. Then when I spoke to this midwife she said it’s no good. And explained that it’s fine in the fridge, like it says above, but only if it’s being used before the time is up. Otherwise it needs freezing.
To be fair, this entire pregnancy, every midwife has told me different things on almost everything so I give up 😭

yeah she literally said the opposite of this. Said you can’t add to it, etc etc

My midwife suggested that I do it in 3 sessions through the day and to store the syringe in the fridge for the day whilst I work to fill it then freeze at end of day. So I’m going on 12 hours in fridge being done at least

I express into a small sterile container held under my nipple I also lie on my side to do it and I don’t loose no drops it’s not nerve easiest of tasks is it having belly stuck in the way 🤣🤣🤣

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