Colostrum harvesting

I’m having the same issue

I have been doing it onto a spoon, but making sure there’s enough of it before sucking it up. Then if it takes me two goes to get a full one I push the first bit out back onto the spoon then re suck it all up so there’s no air. Hope that makes sense! X

I’ve tried two times this week and I’ve got nothing not even a drop, is this normal?

Mine would dry up on the spoon so quickly. I've been taking straight fro. My nipples. Then flick the syringe so it goes down slightly, push the plunger back up a little and back down, keep going till no air left. Or put my finger iver the end and pull plunger down sl it pulls the colostrum down. A tip I learnt with medicines. Mind yoj I havent managed to express enough tk be worth collecting tbh 😅

Sit up in bed. Lean forward xx

Thank you, only started trying today so ill try all these tips tomorrow!

I’ve been doing it sucking from the nipple with the syringe. I do it in bits at a time, squeeze until there’s a decent amount on the nipple, syringe it up, there will be air but if you flick the syringe then the air will go to the top and you can push it out and it’ll just be filled with colostrum (do this after each small suction you’ve done before you go to collect more) x

Flick the syringe and tap it gently to get the air bubbles out, I also found pulling it back released some of the bubbles. I expressed onto a spoon then into a small cup as my supply got more.

I sterilised a small tub and do it into that, I always fill the syringe with air and push it all out before I collect the colostrum because I feel sometimes the syringe gets stuck and ended up with air in it x

I hand expressed Into a shot glass then used the syringe to suck a little bit up tip it upight and suck in a little air, tap the syringe a couple times and all the air will go to the top then push the plunger back up without losing any colostrum and suck up any remaining in the syringe, zero waste this way xx

Flick the syringe to release air bubbles and push any air bubbles left over out. I had a few problems at the start of collecting but I’m not getting a full syringe each time. Make sure there’s a decent amount on the nipple first though.

@Sophie I can’t do the direct to syringe method because of the same reason, air and just not getting enough, so I’ve invented my own system that works really well. A spoon to me is something else you have to hold - it’s also way too fiddly to squeeze your boob, hold a spoon and do the syringe = FAFFFFFF. My method: I sit on a stool at my kitchen counter and hang my boob over a sterile pot (you can rinse small plastic container in boiling water, use a glass “Gu” pot or similar). After massaging for 5 mins, I squeeze using both hands until I started getting a few drops and catch them in the pot. I keep going until I have a bunch of colostrum in the pot. Then I suck it up using the 1ml syringes. I’ve been getting two syringes per day now after 5 days of trying. I find my left boob has a magic button that if I press and hold I get a good flow of drips. Dripping it in like this is so much easier for me so just sharing in case anyone else might find this method easier!!

Just jumping in on this post but when did you all start managing to collect colostrum? I'm nearly 37 weeks and tried yesterday but got literally nothing, all the massaging didn't seem to make anything happen

@Emily I started just before going over 37 weeks and first few times literally got a glistening on one boob. Yesterday I managed to complete my first syringe and it went into the freezer. That’s after about ten days of build up. So it’s doable, but be patient with yourself and set small goals at first.

@Lidia thank you!

I express into a spoon and make sure the end of the syringe is completely sumberged in the colostrum, then once it's in the syringe, turn the syringe up, suck a tiny bit of air in and just keep tapping (fairly hard) until the bubbles rise to the top and squirt out the bubbles

@Abigail me too!

Ladies don't worry too much. I didnt have any supplies when I went to hospital. It was there the instant I needed it after I'd given birth xx