Colostrum storing?

Don't start till 37 weeks, get the go ahead from MW. Look up videos on the process. My boobs literally looked like they wouldn't produce anything. But they did. It was only a time amount because my LO came at 37+3. But I continued on the ward post-birth as he wouldn't latch. So good to have some in freezer just incase. I was exhausted from a fast labour and basically having to do it all then. So of you're lucky enough to collect more and go to term. Then brill. Even if you don't use it in hospital, it'll be great if baby has a rash/is unwell/gunky eyes etc at a later stage. Get partner to help if you have, sounds weird but i had mine helping draw the syringe so i could 2 handed express. Even in the hospital, nurses were probably very confused. But he's a good egg and helos where he can. If you don't get any, dw. The MWs will help with latch/expressing post birth. And the infant feeding team will see you too xx

I would sit in a nice warm bath. You need to be relaxed and not stressing about it. Relax in the bath with a warm flannel on your boob. After a few minutes massage the boob (look up videos on YouTube to see the technique). After the massage start trying to harvest. I found that squeezing a certain area on each boob got me more out. I just squeezed some out and sucked it up directly into the syringe. I had 13 syringes by the time I had baby. I used one in the hospital and the hospital lost the rest. I was gutted. So I would say if you manage it don't take your whole supply to the hospital! X

I started at 37 weeks and got the syringes from my midwife. I harvested .5 ml on my first try and then did 1ml daily going up to 2mls daily. I have run out of syringes but have about 23 stored in the freezer so I just keep expressing into the bath/shower for now and it is hand expressing. It can be hard getting into it but your midwife should also provide guidance on how to do it and you can just stop each time your breasts become sore. You will get more used to it over time.
Any stored colostrum not used for feeding can then also be used in baby's bath 😊

There's no need to collect colostrum, but it can be helpful to get yourself used to the process, or if you are higher rishi for complications. Here's some really helpful information on it. https://laleche.org.uk/antenatal-expression-of-colostrum/

I think I started at 37 weeks when they advised I could start.
I was honestly devastated! It was 2am and baby was screaming hungry. My milk hadn't come in. And then they tell me they can't find it..... X

Midwife will go through this with you at the right time! And will give you some syringes xx

Just a heads up, the midwife might say it's unlikely to bring on labour but, the night i spent 2 hours filling 2 syringes, my waters broke 😂 it could have been a coincidence though!

I tried but didn't produce until I gave birth. I tried, but barely anything came out. I wouldn't stress if you cant as soon as your baby is born you can focus on feeding then. If you do produce that's great and collect from 37 weeks onwards only.

Supposed to wait until 37 weeks I believe. I couldn't do it though, midwife managed to get a tiny bit out while I was in labour though

I didnt collect any colostrum during either of my pregnancies and both of my girls successfully nursed without any major supply issues for over a year each

I started at 32-34 weeks, I can’t remember. My kiddo came at 38 weeks. I would hand express into a sanitized small collection jar until I had enough to fill the syringe. You can even get 1mL syringes which is nice. I found out this pregnancy that you can actually store the colostrum in the sealed jar for up to 4 days so that you can add to the syringe before freezing. I personally only expressed once a day after my evening shower, I don’t know if you want to express more times a day if that would affect when you start collecting. I do know that you want to be careful of collecting too early and too often because it can trigger premature labor. I will say those extra syringes came in handy when my kiddo caught his first cold so definitely nice to have on hand.

I started with the syringes but it took for ever so i used the pump and thank God i got around 90 mls which where extremely important so i get some sleep at the first night
I started pumping on week 38 till the end 40 weeks