Nipple Stimulation

[purpleflower]

I've been having loads of irregular contractions today, they are too painfull for Braxton Hicks but I know it's not the real thing yet.

I thought I might help things a long a bit with my breast pump but I'm expressing loads of colostrum. Should I stop? Will there be enough for baby? Am I going to bring my milk in early.

[purpleflower]

anyone?

[mawbroon]

Hmm, I was of the understanding that the nipple stimulation thing was a myth. After all, some mothers feed older children during and beyond pregnancy without them all having premature labours.

You won't bring in your milk early, the change to mature milk is triggered by hormonal changes brought on by the birth.

[notsoslimnow]

this is interesting,dont know the answer though so hope someone more qualified posts.i have been wondering if there is just a set amount of collustrum or if it keeps coming til baby is born due to hormonal changes.....anyone???

[terramum]

No you won't bring in your milk early by expressing. See this link for a good explanation of how milk production works:
www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/milkproduction.html#endocrinecontrol

[avaj]

I was told by midwife that nipple stimulation is very effective, but you need to do it for an hour or so.
She also warned me that it brings on a very fast labour, so I decided i wasnt brave enough to try it!
GOOD LUCK!

[MarsLady]

[purpleflower]

Thank you all.

I did 10 mins on the right and got a bit of colostrum but not much then did a couple of mins on the right and panicked because I got so much out.

It hasn't made a difference, still getting annoying irregular contractions.

[mawbroon]

Looking at this it seems to suggest that the nipple stimulation is only relevant once labour has already started

[purpleflower]

Thats why I haven't done it before, only now I'm getting the pains, I was hoping it would get things started properly.

[ajm200]

Don't worry about pumping colostrum, your body will produce more to meet demand. Helping labour along with nipple stimulation can give very painful contractions so be careful.

Drinking lots of raspberry leaf tea can make the womb work more efficiently and is supposed to help too. I drank loads before labour last time and after the birth but didn't try using it to get the contractions to strengthen in labour.

Moving around without wearing yourself out should also help as it will encourage baby to move down and press on your cervix. Rock on a birthing ball, hula your hips, etc.

[lulumama]

aaah, nipple stim, my favourite!

a great way to strenthen contractions or get things moving along

it releases oxytocin, the synthetic version, syntocinon is given via a dip to induce labour

smooching and having hot nekkid lovin; can also release oxytocin, and the semen contains natural prostoglandins that help ripen and soften the cervix. when you are induced, a prostin pessary , a synthetic version of these prostoglandins, is given.

so basically, sex and nipple stim are the natural alternatives to induction of labour and a lot more fun

nipple stim with a breast pump can be a lot more effective

it won';t make you go into labour if your body is not ready and the hormones are natural so you won;t be suddenly thrown into full on labour without any build up

the colostrum will not run out

once you have had your baby and the placenta is expelled, there are massive hormonal changes that start milk production properly, with colostrum being prodcued followed by your milk a few days later, so don;t worry about running out

good luck purpleflower !

[purpleflower]

Thank you.

I'm still here, the contractions have gone and I've just had a constant dull ache all day like strong period pains but they are not really coming or going.

I tried sex last night and jumping on the trampoline this afternoon. I figured the trampoline was like a long walk and bouncing on a ball at the same time

I think I'll get the pump out again now that I'm reasured and DS is asleep. He picked it yesterday and tried pumping DP