Colostrum harvesting

I’m very yet to try, but the midwife said it’s better if 2 people do it juggling to try to collect etc but also some people don’t actually collect anything before baby arrives.

I was having the same, I could see there was something coming through but not enough to collect. I started using both hands and moved a bit further away from the nipple and hold the squeeze for longer. Eventually I started getting enough to collect, it was only 0.2 mls the first day but managed to get half a syringe after a few days. I did read that some people will never get any out antenatally though so don’t beat yourself up or panic if you can’t get anything it doesn’t mean you won’t be successful once baby arrives.

I haven’t managed to get any other than a glisten like you say. I’m 39+4 I’ve given up as it was annoying me. Hopefully it will all work out when little one arrives 🤞

I didn’t get anything until after baby was born. And honestly it was my partner who got most of it out for me.. between feeling exhausted and just wanting to hold my baby I didn’t have the energy to do it!

I tried religiously when I was 38, 39 weeks and only got a few millilitres. I ended up never using it though! When time came, baby was able to latch and got enough. I think trying to express helped starting things out smoothly, even if I didn't get anything to show for it.

I started a couple of days ago, got nothing the first day and the last couple I’ve still only managed about 0.7ml all together but tiny drops at a time. I got the most while sitting soaking in a warm bath and squeezing a bit closer directly ‘behind’ the nipple although I know you’re not really supposed to be squeezing the nipple like that lol. Just keep trying but don’t be disheartened if you can’t get any it has no correlation to your supply once the baby is here🤍

Didnt really get anything first time. I left it two days then Second time I tried I managed to fill a whole syringe but took me an hour and kept swapping both boobs! When I got a good bit of flow I repeated the same place, same rhythm and I guess it helped me get the hang of it. Not easy though! I’m 36+4 and doing it due to GD and getting induced at 38

I’ve been getting .5-1ml twice a day for the past week (39+2 today), took about a week of only a few drops before more started coming

Our midwife said that many people get hardly any, some get absolutely none and it has not a single impact on your breastfeeding journey after birth so not to worry or pressure ourselves.

My midwife suggested using a haakaa breast pump for let down of colostrum, because I have been leaking small amounts since about 18 weeks. I had been scared to try it as when you attach it, it has a good vacuum suction if you squeeze the bottom too hard. I tried it last night, attached it and leaned forward to let gravity work, didn’t use the hand pump since it can bring on contractions and I left it on for about 20 mins. I managed to collect enough for 1ml syringe, I was really surprised! It seemed to work better on the boob that’s a little closer to pointing at my feet right enough 🤣 - gravity is helpful then!

I struggled at first and felt like giving up. My technique that seems to work is if I get a bath, light a candle, play some music and relax. Once I feel as though I’m ready to give it ago then I’ll use 2 hands rather than 1. I’ve found the wider I ‘squeeze’ the more I get out. I’m currently 40+2 and found that I’ve been able to get more towards my due date then I did when I stated at 37 weeks because there wasn’t anything there, I am only getting 0.5-0.7ml at a time so as long as it’s something I’m not going to worry. If your planning on using a pump I’d check with your midwife first, I asked my midwife and as I’m bottle feeding she advised not to use a pump and try my hardest with my hands xx

Try not to get frustrated, set up your area with dim lights. I put spa music on and just relaxed on my bed. Hot bath/shower before or 5 minutes of massage per breast. It took me a couple of days to get into a rhythm that worked for me, we are all different! I found YouTube videos helped a lot. I barely got 1ml on my first go, but getting about 5ml a day now with practise. I use a slow squeeze motion first until you see that glisten, almost like replicating baby’s suckle, then a more pressurised squeeze to express. You’ll get there! X

I haven’t tried in this pregnancy but I couldn’t get any with my first, but still ended up breastfeeding for 1.5 years! It doesn’t relate to your breastfeeding journey at all so don’t worry about that 😊 I actually had to give my first a syringe in hospital as he wouldn’t latch straight away but the midwife helped me to do it while I was in there on the first night, so you could always try then!