colostrum

this may be a dum question but i thought id ask anyway. my boobs have started leaking clearish fluid already which i assume is the beginnings of colostrum. does it matter how early this happens? like is my milk gonna come in too early and the baby gonna miss out on importnat nutrients or is it impossible for milk to come in until after the baby is born? im just worried that it mite be wasting valuble sorces of goodness for my baby if they start leaking quite early. anyway, some enlightenment on my possible moroness would be great

TIA

Don't feel silly monikah I was wondering exactly the same thing - and so was my dh! Whenever you're wondering something there's generally at least one other person wanting to know the same thing huh!

Good to know the answer too thanks cuppatea

I never leaked at all during pregnancy and my supply was very poor no matter what I tried so I believe this now too.

Okay, so when is it "normal" for first-time mums to start leaking? I'm at 30 weeks, and have the opposite worry, that I should have started leaking already!

If you mean you would notice the leaking, I'm afraid the answer is no. It comes out at body temp so by the time you realise it has cooled down, which means you already have big wet circles on your top......such an attractive look After baby is born and you get let down then normally you can feel it come out as it's kinda tingly (or was for me anyway).

whitewave I think I remember reading about expecting colostrum a couple of weeks ago in my pregnancy book so maybe 36ish weeks?
You could try giving your boobs a squeeze and see if something comes out, or before your shower have a look at the nipple and see if anything has dried on it, you might be leaking but just not enough for it to be hugely noticeable. I do also remember reading that not leaking in pregnancy doesn't actually mean anything supply wise post birth.

Really!!!! Ok, totally leaving a couple of breast pads, bra and shirt at work! That would be so embarrassing at work. Thanks for the warning.

i was the same with the nocturnal leaking. So far supply has been very good

And as cuppatea said, your milk wont come in till you have bubs sucking on it.  Its all a fantastic system