Colostrum harvesting 😬

Is anyone else feeling completely useless with colostrum harvesting? I started yesterday and between then and now, I've only managed to collect 0.05ml! My husband is trying to reassure me that I'll get better results as I get more confident with hand expression, but I'm feeling pretty useless and rubbish about it at the moment and worrying that I won't be able to feed my baby when she arrives. Any tips would be very welcome 🙏

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I’m 36 weeks on Tuesday and I’m being induced on Wednesday so I have 24 hours to harvest! I was told to try it in the bath as you’re more relaxed and warm x

Colostrum harvesting is quite a newly promoted thing I feel like. I really wouldn’t stress about it. For the first few days after birth baby only needs small amounts per feed which is fine as your milk comes in on day 2-3ish. I don’t believe the amount of colostrum you can collect correlates to the amount of milk you’ll be able to produce etc. Fed is best, whether that’s by boob or by bottle 😘

I've never harvested and not planning to this time either You will be able to feed baby directly from the breast it just takes a few goes for both you and baby to get the hang of it. I wouldn't worry too much.

My friend exclusively breastfed for 18 months yet could never get a single drop of colostrum when she was pregnant. I really wouldn’t worry! Xx

I’ve been massaging and attempting to express for a week so far and nothing has produced. I’m not worrying. I know my technique is correct and even if I don’t produce now it will still help when baby is here.

I was never able to harvest colostrum but I’ve been able to breastfeed both my kids. I don’t plan to even try this time, I don’t think it’s necessary.

I can relate… I’m 37 weeks and still no colostrum! My boobs are huge so it’s a challenge …Will keep trying but Hoping she can just have it from the breast in hospital x

There's no correlation between harvesting colostrum before birth and successfully breastfeeding as far as I'm aware! It's only in the last few years it's become a common thing to do, they used to only recommend harvesting beforehand if you knew you'd be separated from baby after birth and not able to feed immediately etc x

Thank you. I'm hoping breastfeeding will be OK but have preemptively popped some newborn formula into my hospital bag just in case-don't want my pride getting in the way of a hungry little tummy! These comments do give me hope and make me feel a little better though, so thank you 🙂

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