Colostrum

Dasha420 · November 2015

When is it supposed to start appearing? I know everyone is different but I am wondering how early is it possible to have nipple discharge?

lionstigersbears · November 2015

Mine started about 25 weeks last time, not sure what is the typical range. I know some don't produce at all until birth though!

jessiedee13 · November 2015

With my first I started around 25 weeks, my 2nd was 20 weeks. My friend just had a baby and didn't even know leaking was a thing because she never did at all until post birth.

lest12 · November 2015

I didn't produce until birth.

gooberdoofus95 · November 2015

I can squeeze my nipples and colostrum will come out. This might be because I stopped breastfeeding my daughter 7 months ago.

mlangblom · November 2015

Mine were leaking last week.

I have never been able to successfully breastfeed. So I am taking this as my boobs' cruel sense of humor. Maybe third times the charm?

camillaandcarson · November 2015

Not until birth for me.

alexandrac86 · November 2015

I think with my first it was 30ish weeks, I had a little something. I had my 14 week appt today and my dr did mention that it could happen any time and not to worry if there was a little leakage.

kyraaD · November 2015

*lurking from March 2016*

i started leaking at about 16 weeks or so. there's no normal/usual time to start to start producing colostrum.

jenashawn · January 2016

Mine just started leaking in the past couple weeks. I was wondering what the dried stuff was on there, and then yesterday I actually SAW it leaking. Freaked me out. I wasn't expecting colostrum this early (23 weeks). Glad I'm not the only one!

BlueJuice · January 2016

I have a bit starting at 17 or 18 weeks.

kbrands7 · January 2016

My colostrum came in at least a month or so ago. With DS, it wasn't until about the week before I went into labor. I'd imagine that there's a very wide range of normal when it comes to being able to express or leak colostrum.

lionstigersbears · January 2016

Update! My toddler self weaned and I'm convinced it was because I started producing colostrum. This was about 18 weeks, so 7 weeks earlier than last time.

laurenmdrn16 · January 2016

My left boob is leaking, but righty is slacking off. Get it together, boobs!

kbrands7 · January 2016

@lionstigersbears A very similar thing happened to me. We had been working on weaning, and DS was only drinking from the right side once per day. He self-weaned as my milk changed on that side, then colostrum came in on the left (which had been previously weaned fully) a few weeks later.

folamij · January 2016

I am 22 wks and I'm leaking a bit. I first noticed it dried and asked my Dr. who confirmed it was colostrum. I didn't know it could come in early either...

codeeye · January 2016

I am 23 weeks and two days ago my left nipple was really really sore for some reason and then I went in to rub it and it felt like something was dried to it. I assume it's the start of colostrum. I've never been this pregnant before so I'm not really sure. One thing I am sure of is that I'm gonna go out and buy nipple cream! That sucker was tender! Haha

Kurrant · January 2016

I find it really reassuring that there are chicks here that haven't had leakage till the end. I've been really concerned that I haven't had any leaking. I want to BF and would actually be quite sad if I couldn't.

araecasey · January 2016

@Kurrant Don't sweat it! Some gals never leak but have very abundant milk supplies. Leakage =/= a lot of milk.

AdorkablePixie · January 2016

I guess I have been leaking and never realized it because sometimes I will have white stuff on my nipples. I thought they were just dry or that I didn't rub my lotion in well enough!

lionstigersbears · January 2016

Kurrant said:
I find it really reassuring that there are chicks here that haven't had leakage till the end. I've been really concerned that I haven't had any leaking. I want to BF and would actually be quite sad if I couldn't.

My midwives said all it means is that you know baby will get colostrum, doesn't mean anything about milk supply

eaorear · January 2016

@laurenmdrn16 same here! Ole righty is behind the times!!

onislandtime · January 2016

Last time I didn't produce until birth. I'm 24 weeks +2 right now and so far, nothing.

gorgeousariel · January 2016

FTM, mine came in at around 18w but only if I stimulate them.

KelleAlward · January 2016

Nothing until birth for me last time, and nothing yet.

hellogoodbye2 · January 2016

I've found dried colostrum a couple times now, but I'm never able to express any out.

camillaandcarson · January 2016

Agree with whoever said you may not ever leak. I nursed from day 1 until baby was a toddler. No bottles or formula and never saw any leaks. My body seems to just make what my 1 baby needs, no more, no less. Although there were some people I knew who were nursing and always leaked and even sprayed. So everyone is different.

I knew I had colostrum at birth because the baby was getting something (and the lactation consultants reassured me) and when the milk did finally come in I could feel it as in a ridiculous fullness of the breasts, so much it was painful. But that passed quick and I never "felt full" again (they were always soft) but I made enough milk for my baby to thrive and be happy and healthy.

The way you can tell if you are making enough milk for your baby is diaper output and their growth, not leakage.

https://www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com/twitter-and-blog/low-milk-supply-101

drablnd · January 2016

I actually had my first leak last night while watching a movie and my SO thought it was so funny

JoMunson · January 2016

This is the most random question-
Ever since I accidentally expressed my own colostrum about two weeks ago I've pressed lightly on my breast in the shower and when I get a little bead of liquid I stop. Somewhere I got it in my mind that this was a good practice, that it kept my body producing. Am I right/wrong/who cares?

diabeticmom · January 2016

I didn't produce until birth with my last and I'm 23 + 5 and still haven't with this one.

araecasey · January 2016

JoMunson said:
This is the most random question-
Ever since I accidentally expressed my own colostrum about two weeks ago I've pressed lightly on my breast in the shower and when I get a little bead of liquid I stop. Somewhere I got it in my mind that this was a good practice, that it kept my body producing. Am I right/wrong/who cares?

No need to express during pregnancy, unless you want to build a small freezer stash in case you'd need to supplement for whatever reason. Your body will produce colostrum no matter what you do because it's hormonally driven.

tt8mpowell · January 2016

I'm 23 weeks and noticed slight leaking within the past 2 weeks

amovin21 · January 2016

I'm 24w4d, FTM, and no leaking so far

rbrooks6 · January 2016

I actually checked my nipples for it this week, nothing.

rbrooks6 · January 2016

I am 26 wks.

sparkledonuts · January 2016

last time I didn't produce until birth but I am now 24 weeks and the past couple of days I've felt this tingly feeling in both breasts almost like when your milk is coming in but not as painful? it's hard to explain unless you have breastfed before .. any one else feeling this way? I haven't tried to express anything !

kbrands7 · January 2016

@sparkledonuts I had that sensation when my colostrum was coming in on my left/milk was changing over on my right (I weaned one side at a time). It was a week or so from when the sensation started before I could express anything.

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