When does colostrum come in?

[Lulu_Laroo]

I know breast milk doesn't come in until a few days after baby is born, but what about colostrum?
I've been advised to hand express some colostrum & store it in the freezer before my baby is born because its likely she'll have low blood sugar & possibly need special care cos of my GD. And having extra colostrum available will be like gold dust for her.

Thing is, I've tried to express & there doesn't seem to be anything there! I've never had leaky nipples and now I'm worried I won't get any! I thought I should be able to get some by 36 weeks
Any advice?

 

[knopk@]

I have been told I should be having some colostrum as well at my stage but I dont have anything! I know some mums on here said they didnt get colostrum until after the birth

 

[BabysMomma]

I never got leaky nipples either (so don't worry hunni) but my Avery breastfed from me about 20mins after I gave birth to her (got a few stitches) and the colostrum was there. Seemingly its triggered as soon as you give birth. x

 

[Tracey M]

This may sound a bit weird but have you tried "kneading" your breasts? Start on the outside and work to the nipple using your knuckles. Do this over the entire breast and then gently stroke your breasts again from the outside to the nipple. This should make the milk ducts react and then if you squeeze your breasts at either side of the nipple usine thumb and forefinger, slighly pushing in towards your body at same time and maybe you will start to see some colustrum coming through. Oh and maybe do this when your body warm maybe in a bath. When my breastmilk got blocked I used you wrap in hot towels first....

 

[beckibooxx]

Im 28 weeks and ive probably had colstrum for like... 2-3 weeks now? maybe longer all women are diff so u might get yours soon its annoying when it leaks tho! lol

 

[Mummy2Adam]

Mine have been leaking since 18 weeks and it gets really annoying
Get you OH to massage your breasts, that might get things moving hunny x x

 

[Kay1987]

i didnt get anything with either of my boys until after they were born. x

 

[MrsHakaxjdx]

ive had mine since before 20 weeks they leak like mad. with my first it never come through at all and with my 2nd probably a few weeks before he was born. i can get my nipples to leak just by getting my thumb at the top of my breast and cup the rest of it with the other four fingers. So your hand should be like the letter c, then from the outside to the middle massage it in, if that makes sense. i bf my last baby my midwife showed me this to make sure i already had milk on my nipple as i was bringing baby to the breast x

 

[JJ Mum]

I only had leeky nipples in tri 3 with my last baby, nothing till after birth with my first 3 kids so don't worry.
Although leeky, I don't think I could have expressed any, even tiny quantitys.

As soon as baby arrives the chemical changes will kick things off

You can get heat/cool gel packs in sainsburys, which I used when expressing to warm boobs first, always got more milk that way - maybe worth a try (norm £12 a set , but always on half price when sains do their regular baby sales) Really good when cool, to relieve sore and engorged boobs (find in baby ailse)

 

[Lulu_Laroo]

Thanks ladies. I'll give that a try, Tracey! And the heat packs, too.
They did say to try to do it a couple of days before I'm induced so I'm trying a bit early, was just a bit worried when I couldn't get anything!

Funnily enough since I posted this, I've found dried yellowish-white stuff on my nipples (sorry, that sounds so gross) so I'm wondering if that's dried colostrum.

 

[yorksmummy]

Yes that sounds like dried colostrum to me.