Is it ok / possible to start expressing milk before birth?

[Tirana]

I want to exclusively breastfeed but know that I'll be working away from home 3 days a week from when my baby will be about 10 weeks old.

Not ideal at all I know and I am worried will I be able to keep up the demand etc, i'm only 25 weeks pregnant now but would I be able to start expressing milk before birth say at about 32 weeks pregnant to build up a supply to freeze?

Tirana it is possible to express before birth but think you need someone who is trained or has a lot more experience than me to answer your questions.

Hopefully someone will be along soon.

Congratulations too .

Yes you can but don't start till 37 weeks at the earliest.

you wouldnt get milk at that stage so it would only be tiny amounts of colostrum you would get which wouldnt be sufficient for feeds after the first few days. You dont produce milk until your lo is born

seona is correct. anything you express before the birth will be colostrum which is very small in quantity - a lot of people only manage to get drops out antenatally. the colostrum will also not be sufficient nutritionally for your baby once your milk comes in. after the birth, probably on about day 3 your milk will come in (with rock hard and massive boobs!) - you could start expressing then to build a supply for the freezer but you need to be careful not to overstimulate your supply. i would phone one of the breastfeeding helplines to get some specialist advice on what to do in your situation. also agree that if you do express anything before baby arrives, not to do so before about 37 weeks as nipple stimulation can induce labour.

Thank you all for the advice, I did think that it might be impossible.

I don't think I will do it if you can only get tiny amounts and will just try and build up some extra after the milk comes in. Just anxious not to let milk dry up when i'm away.

if you pump while you are away your spply should be ok. Would you have somewhere to freeze the milk so you can take it back home to store?

yes - you will need to express when away from your baby to maintain supply but it will be hard work at 10 weeks i think - i really would ask a specialist for advice.

People sometimes can get larger amounts. We encourage diabetic women to pump from 37 weeks and to bring bags of EBM into hospital with them. From talking to some of them they've got a considerable stash in the freezer at home as well as the bags they bring in.

I will be staying in a flat with a freezer so storage will be easy.

Thanks viva maybe it is worth a go at 37 weeks, if I can get ahead of myself with a stash it would be great.

This is my first baby so not sure how possible this will be but feel bad enough I will miss 3 days a week so really want to make the exclusive bf work if I can.

Think that you will need specialist help to be successful in exclusive bf with so much time away.

Thanks for the advice, when you say a specialist do you mean ring somewhere like La Leche?

Realistically does anyone think it is possible? I don't want to be unrealistic and maybe I will have to go for mixed feeding but I really don't want to unless I have to.

Yes, I think Dozer means a BFC with one of the major charities like LLL, NCT, ABM or BFN.

My friend had to leave her ebf 15wk old for a week (booked before she found out she was pg) and she managed to leave a freezer full so you should be OK producing/storing enough for 3 days at a time, but expressing while you are away will be very important for maintaining your supply and your comfort

Yes - if you phone one of the helplines they will be able to give you advice.

NCT : 0300 330 0771 (7 days a week, 8am-10pm)
The Breastfeeding Network: 0300 100 0210 (9.30am-9.30pm every day)
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers: 08444 122949 (9.30am-10.30pm)
La Leche League Great Britain: 0845 120 2918

They will also be able to tell you whether colostrum even if you produced a sufficient quantity would be nutritionally appropriate for an older baby - I suspect not.

I'm sure it is possible and you will never know unless you try but some women have bountiful milk supplies and some don't. The helplines will be able to advise you on how best to keep your supply up, minimise risk of nipple confusion/bottle refusal etc.

Even if you decide that you want to mix feed they will be able to help with that too.

Best of luck.

Thank you very much for those numbers 3goingon4, I will call them re the early expressing and more advice and how best to try and do this.

Like you say I can imagine it being v possible if I have a lot of milk and I suppose very tough going if not. But I am going to really try as do want to ebf for 6 months.

Thanks for all the advice everyone, it's very kind.