Colostrum

[gaeamama]

Do any of you savvy mamas know when the production of colostrum usually begins??
I noticed yesterday while nursing my dd, that I've already started producing colostrum! I was just a little surprised... thinking it may be a little early for this?

[Mom2baldie]

Not sure when its supposed to begin, as Ive never noticed it during pregnancy, but wanted to say lucky you!!! I would love to have something again. My 2.5 year old DD is still nursing also and I wish that she was getting some benefits from it (other than emotional, I mean).

[JenInMpls]

In many things I have read it is deemed not unusual to be producing colostrum in the last 2-3 months of pregnancy.

I am assuming that that's what the clearish liquid I am getting when I give my breasts a gentle squeeze is!

j

[gaeamama]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's what it is you're seeing.
Last 2-3 months, huh? Wow!

I never noticed last time either, though I wasn't nursing my son then. I have low supply problems because I had breast reduction surgery a long time ago. I'm hoping that it will be easier and more plentiful this time, since my dd is still nursing.

[msrog]

I thought colostrum was the yellow thicker liquid... I get both kinds now, clear milk and yellow colostrum milk. I guess some ducts have managed to already empty what little yellow stuff was there and are already leaking the next-phase clear stuff? That was what I was imagining is happening, at least. I have no scientific proof to back it up, haha!

[4under6]

Yeah- the clear stuff and the thicker yellowish stuff-- I've had it here and there for a couple months now.

[mommy2three]

Yup, that's collostrum!!! It starts out as clear (almost like water) I'm not sure how long it will stay like this but gets more thick and yellowish (especially when the baby is born). Mine just started the other day!!! Sam said he was getting some mommy milk and I tried to express a bit and it looked like water. He was so excited (as was I)- lol

I remember getting it really early when I was pregnant with the twins (at 22 weeks!!!) I freaked out because I had no idea why my breasts were leaking- LOL (my first pregnancy...)

Kind of off topic but I can't wait to nurse a newborn again!!! I also can't wait to see my 2 year olds' face when he gets a mouth full of milk after not getting anything all this time (my milk dried up about a month ago...)

Congrats everyone!!!

[Jodie]

Yeah I started to get it at twenty something weeks.
Now I wake up in the morning have some crust on my nipples and sometimes I leak on my shirt during the day.
Some friends I've talked to have had it and some did not.

[3boobykins]

Colostrum can come in as early as 4 months--mine did with ds. I think with dd it was about the same--I was nursing ds while pg with her, and I think colostrum came in when my milk dried up around 18 weeks. This time my milk lasted a lot longer, gradually mixing with colostrum. Now at 31 weeks I mostly have colostrum, and quite a bit of it, with occaisional bits of milk--I can still spray sometimes with I hand-express. I remember when I first read that it can be present pretty early on when I was pg with ds, and tried squeezing, and there it was--I thought that was so cool and amazing!