Colostrum collecting?

Question

Hi, is anyone else started doing this and finding it so difficult or have any tips? I have tried it three times within the last 24 hours (2x morning and 1 x evening) and literally managed to hand express 0.1ml. I will of course keep at it but just hoping I start to produce more 😢

Answer

Getting anything before baby arrives is good so we’ll done and keep going! I never could - I need a baby in front of me for a let down. I just had my baby 5 days ago and as soon as he was here I was able to hand express lots for him.

Answer

I do it once a day for about 5 minutes on each side. I manage to get about 2 ounces each time but my doctor has said that I’m over producing and this is not normal. She told me I should have only been able to get a few drops at a time since babe is not here yet. 
I have noticed I get more when I try after a warm shower or bath. Also lots of hydration!

Answer

I use the haaka while hand expressing because it helps provide some suction. I use it about 2 times a day and have slowly been able to build up more each time. I use it for about 5 minutes then switch sides. Try doing it in the bath a couple times. :) warm wet heat can help get milk flowing and make things easier. Also drink lots of water while doing it. I noticed mine flows easier at night than in the morning because my water intake during the day is higher. Good luck :)

Answer

Choose a time where you do not need to rush and can relax alone. Run a hot bath, chill out and give your breasts a massage. When you get out continue massaging then the hand expressing motion. I only get tiny drops for the first 5/10 mins but if you stay relqxed, happy and keep going more flows for collection. Colostrum is produced for demand so the more you do it the more you get. You could try AM, then out syringe in the fridge then continue with same syringe PM then in the freezer.

Answer

It takes several days to get much! Make sure you watch a video on how to hand express. I wasn’t doing it exactly right and it made a difference!

Answer

I’ve been doing this for about 10 days now, once a day. I use a heated gel pack to get my breasts warm, massage then start expressing. Each day has gotten easier and now filling just over 1ml, still not heaps but every little helps!! (I have gestational diabetes) but also looking at donating colostrum to a lady who had breast cancer and a double mastectomy.

Answer

So I plan to exclusively pump from birth. I got the okay at 37 weeks to begin collecting colostrum and the pumping from 38 weeks on. Pumping gets me near nothing. Hand expressing I get more. I started off being lucky to get .5 ml but I stuck with it and am now getting between 9 and 15 ml a day. 
Don’t stress it. Anything before baby is extra though. It also doesn’t mean anything about how your supply will be. I nursed my daughter the first 3 weeks and she was only transferring half an ounce from both sides after nursing for an hour. I switched to exclusively pumping and was able to get my supply up to over 50 ounces per day at one point. So please don’t be too worried about this now. It’s completely different once baby is here.

Answer

Is this something we’re supposed to do if we want to breastfeed? I didn’t with my first and our bf journey wasn’t very successful 🥲

Answer

I’m 39 weeks and have a whole stash of vials in my freezer now. I have breastfed before so I know how to do it. Getting your breast warm and clean helps (post shower). Massaging and gently shaking helps. Be gentle with the nipple but pull the milk down out of the breast sinus. The Haakaa silicone vials are nice for collection.

Answer

I have been stressing so much about not being able to breast feed because of my past experiences with breast feeding. I’m on baby #3 and worried that I won’t be able to produce enough this go around also. I don’t even want to attempt pumping yet.🥺

Colostrum collecting?

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