Colostrum harvesting
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Not everyone is able to express antenatally but it doesn’t mean you can’t breastfeed. Have you tried after a warm bath? Or even put some heat pads on and spend some time massaging them to help get things flowing
@Nance I've just seen thay people ate doing it really. Not been told to do it by anyone. X
@Jess just had a hot shower and tried after that but no luck 😞
Iv been trying for three days and still have had no luck. Iv tried in the bath and after a shower and massage. Its so frustrating isn’t it but im going to keep going 🤞🏼 x
I didn't get any for the first 3 days and was feeling disheartened I can't lie. But tried again after a bath and really relaxed and tried not to worry about it and I collected 1ml which I was delighted about!! Small wins! 😂 Now a few days later I've managed to collect 5ml in one go. It doesn't work for everyone and I think once I accepted that and stopped stressing about it then it seemed to work for me. Everyone's different but my advice is relax, don't put too much pressure on yourself and persevere if you really want to feel you've given it a good go 😊 x
Just to reassure you, your body has done an incredible thing over the past 9 months literally creating and growing another human being from 2 tiny cells. It’s not going to have gone to all that effort and then not make the milk to feed that baby. Trust in your body, it knows what it’s doing! Even if you don’t get any milk off with antenatal expression, it’s a good place to start and good stimulation for your breasts to prepare them for those first few days of feeding x
@Carina don't stress hun it's not strictly necessary ☺️ I've struggled to get anything with it too, I've been trying so I'm boosting my oxytocin levels so my body's in the right state to start labour, and any colostrum I harvest is a bonus ☺️ anything that gets your oxytocin flowing will help (so try visualise your baby or hold a piece or their clothing or rub your bump and imagine feeding them - and if you feel up to it at this stage intimacy with your partner, even non sexual, should help oxytocin production), and stressing about it will just stop you producing that hormone x
@Sophie Aww thank you Sophie xx
@Nance thank you for the advise hun xx
I’ve tried 4 times and have a total of 2ml collected, so getting tiny amounts each time. I feel like if I can make it to 5ml that would be great, at least her first feed would be covered if there’s any complications.
I’ve also not been able to. My nipple hurts so badly. Had to get the purple Lanolin nipple cream to use.
Mine didn’t really work, I got like 0.1mL three times, not enough to take any to the hospital. The day after my c-section it seemed to dry up completely and I was freaking out, but we’re on day 5 and it’s coming in nicely now! We’ve only had to top up with formula a couple times otherwise she’s just been on the boob (I was unable to nurse my first due to latch issues so it’s clear nothing that happens before baby comes has any bearing on how it will go!)
I couldn't get any, then went for a drop in session at my local hospital and was fortunate enough to have a 121 with a feeding consultant. Turns out I was pressing at the wrong place (way too close to the nipple) and wasn't pressing long enough. That time we got like 3 drops in 10 minutes. Since then I try twice a day and I went from 0.05ml a day to about 0.7ml, in just one week. They say even if it's just a couple of drops it's still worth continuing and taking it with you on the day
@Ginn ok thank you I'll keep trying x
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I wouldn't worry, even though I had a very good supply with my first baby it took me a long time to get the hang of hand expressing - even once baby was here & milk was flowing fine for him! It's not the easiest thing, and some people struggle even with expressing via pumping - every body is different. Even with a good supply I also found expressing didn't work as well when stressed - the more relaxed you are the more success, so that might be a barrier too if you're frustrated! As I understand it being able to express colostrum or not prior to birth isn't indicative of supply/breastfeeding success. Unless you've been encouraged to do so medically for baby I'd just give yourself a break & wait until baby is here 😊 most babies dont need a supply ready & you can express if they did need it after birth anyway (my friend just did this with an unexpected premie baby & she was able to express plenty for him)
I've not been advised to do it 🤷🏻♀️ My sister didn't do it with any of her four and they were all successfully breastfed and her colostrum and milk came in as it should naturally. She told me not to make it something extra to worry about, so I'm not! Section on Tuesday FTM 🥰
I didn't get any with my first pregnancy. It doesn't mean you won't establish a good supply after birth. Have you been advised to harvest for a medical reason? Because it's not usually essential, most babies don't need a stash built up before they're here.