Another preparing to breastfeed thread!

[JacktheLab]

Like a lot of others it seems my attempts to bf ds was a disaster, he never latched on and as I was a gestational diabetic he had to have multiple blood tests when he was born which I don't think helped.

I expressed for six weeks before he was then ff and tbh I've never gotten over the failure of not being able to breastfeed, it never occurred to me that I wouldn't be able to. I cried about it at my booking in appointment for this pregnancy

I'm diabetic again so very concerned bf will be a failure again, is there anything I can do to be more successful this time?

Also is it really possible to be able to express colostrum before the birth?

I'm no expert but am currently tandem-feeding my two DC (8 mo and 2.5 yo).

Some people produce colostrum towards the end of the pregnancy, some don't. There's no harm in trying to express some if you want to, but don't be disappointed if you can't get any. Look on YouTube for videos on hand-expressing if you're not sure about the best way to do it. Fwiw, I had none during DC1's pregnancy but loads during DC2's (which DC1 drank very happily!).

Colostrum can be frozen and saved for baby, I believe, but I've never done it.

It might be worth having a good look at kellymom.com for more breastfeeding info. La Leche League is also a great source. Get your DP and family on board and make sure you have support around you in the early days. Breastfeeding is hard, especially to start with and with a toddler around and it's not helpful if you're being undermined by well-meaning or otherwise relatives.

Also, read tonnes of threads on here! There's a poster called Tiktok who really helped me (unbeknown to her!), because she always gives such good, well-thought-out advice.

Read as much as you can about latching on, supply, how milk is made, blocked ducts, mastitis, demand feeding, sleep, etc, before baby is here, so that you feel more prepared. I don't know how GD affects breastfeeding, but I'm sure you'll be able to do it with the right support.

Good luck!

Oh Jack - it sounds like you had it v tough last time round, and that you didn't get the help you wanted. Well done for expressing for so long. It's bloody hard work!

Since you mentioned expressing colostrum, I'm sure you're aware of the reasoning behind it - that gestational diabetes increases the chance of baby being hypoglycaemic and colostrum helps stabilise blood sugar. It's definitely possible to express colostrum while pregnant and freeze it, then offer it in addition to lots of feeding direct from the breast, but you might need to look around in advance for specialist face-to-face advice so you have the support you need when baby arrives.

Raise it with your antenatal midwife or consultant now (if you haven't already). You can explain that you weren't happy with the breastfeeding support you were given last time round, and you want extra support now as part of your diabetes management plan with a view to (a) colostrum harvesting (great phrase! ) before the birth, and (b) making sure the hospital can support storing and feeding the colostrum to your LO when he or she arrives.

Ideally, there will be a lactation consultant (IBCLC) in the hospital where you're due to give birth, or in an associated bigger hospital in your area (sometimes the hospital infant feeding coordinator is an IBCLC). Or there might be someone in the infant feeding team who has expertise in colostrum harvesting for this purpose. Or you could see a private IBCLC, or a La Leche League leader, but it will help with joined-up thinking in hospital if the plan comes from within the NHS.

Ask for lots of skin to skin contact after birth, and as much help with the latch as you want. There is no such thing as asking for too much help! The Food of Love by Kate Evans is also a great resource to dip into for bf basics and is very non-stressy about the whole thing. Good luck

Hi I read somewhere (another BF forum) that it could be an option to express colostrum and store it in 1-2ml syringes with caps then freeze and take in with you (in freezer box) when you go to have the baby. You need to chat to MW and possibly pre-arrange storage in the hospital freezer etc.

Thank you guys, some interesting reading for me in the next couple of months