Collecting Colostrum

Some people just don't produce any early. I don't. I got some little colostrum collector things and tried so hard the other day and got only a few drops, whereas others are just constantly leaking it out for weeks. I wouldn't stress about it. Baby will get it when he/she is born.

The pamphlet the midwife gave me said if you keep doing it a couple times a day itll start coming and that it may start out as just drops, so im like do I start trying to do it a couple times or do I just let it go and accept that I need to wait until he comes lol cause ive been doing it every day but just at night

This is my second and I’m not super concerned. My first I breastfed just fine without collecting colostrum. Interesting your birth center gave you supplies? My OB has always told me it’s my choice but at the end of the day colostrum will still come after birth

How long did it take for your colostrum to come out enough to fill baby? I havent had any leaking really so it makes me nervous itll take a while. I really really dont want them to have to supplement with formula, I really want to strictly breastfeed. And yea, they gave me the supplies to collect if I wanted to, said it was up to me

so it comes out so small, my official milk took 6 days (emergency c section) and during that time the colostrum alone was enough to support her. She was latching every 20-30 min which helped my milk to come in. She refused to take a bottle or formula.

When I started hand expressing, I hadn't even leaked colostrum yet. I just noticed that my nipples were a bit crusty sometimes and I assumed it was dried colostrum. The first few times I hand expressed, I only got a few drops as well. But then I started making a bit more. Not sure if my body just started making more because I started expressing or if I just got better at doing it. I also have those hot/cold packs from Lansinoh that I heat up and wear right before starting. I also massage my breasts a little right before. I was doing 15 minutes each side and started making a bit more. I now use my electric pump (talk to your doctor before using one as it can stimulate contractions). I do that 20 minutes every morning and make about .75 oz every time.

Really good advice from
If you hand express, make sure you are holding your breast correctly. Your hand should be in a C and make sure you kind of push your hand towards your chest when you squeeze and you're not pulling your nipple away from your chest. :) there are some videos on YouTube or TikTok you can watch to see what I mean if my explanation is a bit confusing

Oh you won’t get very much. But you don’t need a lot of colostrum anyways so whatever you can collect is good

Thank you ladies for all of your wonderful advice ❤️ I almost decided to give up on it but after reading your comments im going to try again and see if I can get it going with what yall suggested