Expressing colostrum whilst preg - when to start without triggering labour

[GruffaloMama]

Am 31 weeks with DC2. Would like to express and freeze some milk/colostrum in case baby needs it after arrival (DS had low blood sugar and had to have formula for first 24 hours to stabilise his levels). If possible I'd prefer to avoid this with new baby. I asked the midwife when I should start and she looked horrified said that if I should wait until 37 weeks at the earliest as I could trigger labour through breast stimulation. I know that you can progress/bring on labour through breast stimulation but I wasn't planning on expressing for hours every day - just wanted a few bottles set aside as a back up. I was also confused as I fed DS through the first 14 weeks of this preg until he weaned himself. I'd told a different midwife at my booking in appointment that I was feeding him and she didn't even mention it as a risk and also said she'd refer me to a BF counsellor as I mentioned that I'd like to express later in preg for the reason above. So I'm a bit confused. Can anyone help?

Gruffalo - I'm no expert but here is a NHS resource for expressing colostrum that will hopefully explain all.

One thing though - you won't get bottles worth of colostrum more like 1-5ml in a syringe that you would use to feed baby with (i.e. collect & feed with the same syringe).

HTH

I was going to collect colostrum as i'm diabetic. Specialist midwife told me to start at 36 weeks. Didn't get any in the 1st week, then gave birth at 37 weeks so didn't have a chance! As prev poster said you'll only get up to a teaspoon each go - if you are lucky.

My midwife said it would take HOURS of nipple stimulation to release enough hormone to trigger labour.

Could you express when DC2 arrives if you need to? My dd had difficulty latching on for the first few days and I asked if I could express rather than give formula, so the midwives found me a breast pump and tub of Milton sterilising fluid that that I kept next to my bed in hospital and used regularly until dd got the hang of it. You could always have a manual pump ready if you think the hospital won't be helpful. Or have I got the wrong end of the stick and you want to start early so you can get a larger quantity than you'd naturally produce?

36 weeks is what I was told. I'll be doing this next time round as DD needed formula in SCBU as I couldn't express well enough to start with and they were concerned about her sugar levels.

Try and get pre-sterilised 1ml or 2ml syringes from the MW or hospital for it - that's what I used for colostrum with DD.

Thanks all. Was talking to a friend tonight who also wants to express antenatally and she's got some spare syringes. So will get going on that once I get to the last month. DIYqueen DS needed the extra before I would have been able to produce it just to bring his sugar levels up just for that first day.

I think I'll try to get referred to a specialist midwife at the hospital to get proper advice from them.

I'd definitely talk to someone at the hospital as I have heard of Mums turning up with frozen colostrum and the labour ward not knowing what to do with it!