Harvesting colostrum?

Hi all,

I had a variety of problems breastfeeding DD and am looking forward to trying again with #2 - due 31 August. The lovely MadB loaned me her copy of "The Breastfeeding Mother's Guide to Making More Milk", which has sorted out my confidence issues - I have learned that Mum's inability to bf me was due to retained placenta, so that rules out all doubt about there being some genetic hoodoo on bf in our family (my sister couldn't bf her first and didn't try with her other two).

One suggestion in the book was to harvest colostrum from 34 weeks - both to help develop the breast and glandular tissue, and to provide backup for supplementation should milk take awhile to come in (which it did with DD). I gave it a crack today (hand expressing and syringing) and got a little. It does seem that my right continues to be the more prolific producer - leftie was always a bit lazy :D

So I was wondering if anyone else has done this and if it has helped? I want to give this a red hot go and even if my milk comes in quickly this time I figure having a little stock of frozen colostrum could be handy - I've heard of it being used as almost a vitamin pill :)

Eeeks 34 weeks seems a little early because expressing can cause contractions. You do NOT want a premmie bub. Most books suggest a latter date... 36 weeks. Other than that, I think expressing colostrum before birth is a fantastic idea and bubs will really benefit.

This may be a very dumb question....but, won't you run out before bub is born? I thought there is only a certain amount of colostrum, so harvesting would bring your milk in faster. Of course, if I'm wrong, I think it's an awesome idea!

Lots of Mums feed an older child throughout a pregnancy - no-one runs out of anything.
There is a small risk of nipple stimulation bringing on labor - for most people this is teeny. I don't think it would do any harm to wait another couple of weeks if you are concerned though.

I expressed colostrum early, because I had gd and one of the midwives recommend I do so that in case bub needed to be supplemented.

Can't remember exactly when I started, somewhere between 34 and 36 weeks. I didn't have any issues, started only getting small amounts, about .5ml and gradually increasing. My left side always produced more and still does with milk.

Dd was born at 39+2 all fine and dandy.

My milk came in as per normal after birth and I have HEAPS!

I think it was a good thing, even just from the point of view of being comfortable with your breasts and knowing how they work.

Hope it helps for you :)

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This may be a very dumb question....but, won't you run out before bub is born? I thought there is only a certain amount of colostrum, so harvesting would bring your milk in faster. Of course, if I'm wrong, I think it's an awesome idea!

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How to put this? My DH is a boobs guy who er, had a lot of getting to know my colostrum pre birth (and milk post) and it still took 5-6 days for my milk to come in. So not sure if that's the case or not. Like PP said, many BF during pregnancy. There's a very small risk, but a risk non the less if you don't want to take it :)

Yep, lots of people breastfeed through pregnancy without a hitch. (I ended up with a prem but not for that reason!!). Very interesting article about safety of breastfeeding through pregnancy and talks about oxytocin and the uterus. Google 'Hilary Flower safety of breastfeeding' It's a kellymom site which I don't think I can link to here.

Here's a snippet:

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The first little-known fact is that during pregnancy less oxytocin is released in response to nipple stimulation than when a woman is not pregnant.5

But the key to understanding breastfeeding during pregnancy is the uterus itself. Contrary to popular belief, the uterus is not at the beck and call of oxytocin during the 38 weeks of the “preterm” period. Even a high dose of synthetic oxytocin (Pitocin) is unlikely to trigger labor until a woman is at term.6

Instead, the uterus must actively prepare in order for labor to commence. You could say that there are two separate states of being for the uterus: the quiescent baby-holder and the active baby-birther. These states make all the difference to how the uterus responds to oxytocin, and so, one can surmise, to breastfeeding. While the baby is growing, the uterus is geared to have a muffled response to oxytocin; at term, the body’s preparations for labor transform the uterus in ways that make it respond intensely to oxytocin.

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Rule of thumb is that if you experience contractions while expressing/breastfeeding or any nipple stimulation.. even sex I would imagine! (lots of oxytocin then too :) ) is to stop what you're doing and see if the contractions also stop. It's generally thought that nipple stimulation won't get labour going unless your body is already ready to labour, so I wouldn't worry too much.

As for running out of colostrum, nup... we have very very clever bodies! Milk production, as opposed to colostrum production is all kickstarted with hormones during the birth, so even if breastfeeding a toddler throughout, the new baby gets it's own colostrum and milk in it's own time.

Thanks everyone for your feedback.

Little_o, I have GD as well - what is the possible issue with bf? My sugars are really well under control - gold star from the obs two visits in a row now. Hoping that doesn't effect me...

As for running out, it's the birth and (hopefully complete!!) expulsion of the placenta that sends the hormonal signal to kick off milk production - hence why Mum couldn't bf me.

Not an issue with bfing, but sometimes the baby can have low sugar once its separated from its mum. I was the same as you and mine was completely fine and diet controlled. One of the midwives at the hospital I was going to said they recommend all gd mammas express and store colostrum before hand just in case bub needs a top up because of low sugars.

My dd was completely fine, but it actually worked out because we had a night labour, the following night one of the midwives took her so we could get some sleep and they used the expressed colostrum then.

Also it guarantees your body has it ready to go for the first feed, instead of the baby sucking dry. And if they do have low bs they get a good feed straight up.

My baby had low blood sugars and I didn't have GD. So I guess expressing is useful even if you don't have it!