Colostrum harvesting vs breastfeeding

Whether you can get colostrum out or not before baby arrives is pretty random and means nothing for breastfeeding. Don't worry!

I STUGGLLLEEDD with colostrum, I was getting a couple drops in 20 mins - but I’m overproducing milk - the two aren’t correlated

Honestly don’t worry about collecting it if you plan to breastfeed you’ll just get stressed out. I had my first in February and this was the best advice I got from my aunt who is a lactation specialist. Look up breastfeeding positions and how to get a good latch. Get comfortable with that or have it saved in your phone so that as soon as you can you plop the baby on. Feed on demand and enjoy it I promise it’s worth it. You’ll be able to pump when you get home with your little one which will be colostrum! Best of luck & congratulations 🩷

Is there a particular reason you’re wanting to harvest colostrum? I didn’t bother both times. Personally I don’t think it affects your ability to breastfeed. So don’t worry too much about it. You don’t need the added pressure/ stress xx

ahh thank yous so much! I really appreciate your replies. I think I wanted to harvest colostrum because I read online somewhere that it’s handy to have incase your milk takes a while to come in once baby is here. I feel a bit more less stressed now though knowing that there’s no correlation. Thank you!

I had the exact same worry, 41+4days and was still only getting max 0.5ml. But as soon as baba came it came much faster (I think it has something to do with hormones when your placenta comes away). Plus they only have tiny tummies so I didn't even use the few ml I did manage to get. 10wks in and still exclusively breastfeeding now so try not to stress yourself out too much. You'll be grand mama!

I never collected any before babies were born and I breastfed both for almost 2 years.

I never got any colostrum out at all, even at 41 weeks. My milk still came in just fine a few days after delivery

Colostrum harvesting is such a waste of time and some weird fad that’s pushed now. The best way to encourage your milk supply is by feeding directly from the breast. As soon as your placenta is detected your body is ready and in full flow to feed your baby. Anything before there is irrelevant. You will be absolutely fine.

thats frustrating because feeding your baby extra colostrum will delay your fuller milk coming in.

I really struggled and kept trying a trying. I was still hand expressing and getting a couple of ml (that amount was over 2-3 days) when I was in the hospital being induced because it was really hyped up about collecting colostrum etc… it’s still in my freezer and I don’t really know what I would use it for…

I breastfeed my little girl and have just the right amount of milk for her.

you can send it off to make keepsake jewellery, donate it, keep it to help with any eczema or skin conditions.

I couldn't get any colostrum but the midwives in the hospital showed me how. Basically ignore the youtube videos and get your fingers on the nipple then make the squeeze long and hard (it hurt to do). It was still a struggle but I got some out. Milk is really easy to get out!