Is anyone else struggling to harvest any colostrum?

I really struggled, it took me 6 attempts, I wasn’t leaking at all either. Only thing that has worked for me is putting a warm compress on my boobs for 10 mins before massaging and then doing it. I don’t know if it was that or that I kept trying everyday. I nearly gave up to be honest but now it’s coming quite easy (38+1) x

I’m exactly the same! Feel like my boobs have deflated after growing massively first half of pregnancy. Managed to get some tiny beads of colostrum but not enough to harvest

I’ve only been able to get about 0.05ml a time (a few drops) but my midwife said to keep trying 2-3x per day and that sometimes that stimulates it enough and for other people you need the hormone change of after birth to trigger production. She said in general it’s good to learn how to hand express anyway especially as I don’t want to breast feed so I’m just pushing on and hoping it will pick up over the next few weeks

I’ve been trying for nearly 2 weeks and I’ve had next to nothing. I’m having a few days break now as my boobs/nipples are really sore now 🫣

Same. Been trying for almost 2 weeks and have nothing but sore boobs 🫠 it's difficult to not feel disheartened about it so I asked the midwife about it on Monday and she told me it's completely normal and that most women don't take any to the hospital but I agree, seems like everything you see and read is about how easy it is when in fact, for a lot of us, it isn't!

I got absolutely nothing! I tried for 2 days and then went into premature labour at 36+2, as soon as the placenta came out I started producing colostrum so try not to worry x

Thankyou everyone ❤️ nice to know I’m not alone! I’ve been trying for 5 days now and I’m 37 weeks today. I think with my professional background as a neonatal nurse we hugely promote the importance and benefits of colostrum to all of our mums so I’ve got that stuck in my head which is putting a lot of pressure on (which I know won’t be helping either!) I’ll keep going but try to not get too hung up on it xx

Honestly same, I tried so much with my first pregnancy, I did all the right things and nothing. Same with this one 🤷🏻‍♀️ the amount of pressure to harvest and then to BF is insane. It just doesn’t happen as naturally as I thought it did 😩 Two women were sobbing in the postnatal ward (there were only 6 of us in the bay!) because it wasn’t working and the pressure was too much. I couldn’t stand the pain (I think it was worse than any I have experienced, definitely worse than the section) and ended up mixed feeding with a pump!

I got some today from one boob at 39 weeks, prior to this I couldn't get anything on multiple attempts, today was in the bath. I'll continue to try but when nothing happens I just stop, not worth stressing over

@Jade exact same as me I’m also a nicu nurse and we teach and help mums to bf and harvest/express their milk and when it comes to me I haven’t been getting more than a few teeny drops and that’s only the once when I squeeze!! 😭 very disheartening seeing other mums get so much and I get one drop not even able to pick up with the syringe! 😫

I know this feeling too well attempted tonight and took like 45-50 mins and ended up with 0.3ml, and it just broke my heart. I know I've only started leaking but really made me feel crap about myself. I'm going to have a break tomorrow and try again over the weekend if nothing comes from that I just have to stop stressing over it xx

Same here! It’s really disheartening, especially when you see everyone with syringes full of it on here so I get you! I’m still only getting beads and don’t seem to be increasing the amount any time soon but keep trying anyway ☹️

I tried for the first time today. Warm compress, several massages, one over opinionated husband. A little bit disheartened to say the least.

I am so glad to have read this post and all of your comments. After 45 mins of trying yesterday I only got 0.03ml. I've likely got gestational diabetes (currently do 5 days of blood sugar testing to confirm) so really feeling the pressure to have some to take to the hospital

Honestly I don't even try until I've had babby, because I just don't get a justified amount before birth 😅

Mine has been very slow but hoping it’s at least a little progress to help it along once baby is here 😊 I had nothing the first few times, then noticed after a couple more attempts my nipples would be a teeny tiny bit sticky after trying! And then after my last attempt got 0.05ml out which felt so exciting even though it’s so little in the syringe 😂