Antenatal expressing of colostrum for freezing - anywhere else doing it?

[mears]

Women whose babies are at high risk of hypoglycaemia after delivery are now being offered the choice to express colostrum and freeze it incase baby needs it while establishing breastfeeding after delivery. Just wondered if anyone else has been advised to do this in other areas? Will hopefully avoid need for formula top-ups if blood sugar is low. Haven't seen it in action yet but will soon.

I'm on antibiotics for a sinus and ear infection just now, but plan on starting this as soon as I'm finished taking the tablets.

expat, maybe we should start a nipple squeezing competition?

I don't even have to squeeze 'em . It just leaks right out.

ooh, get you.
I have to do a fair bit of squeezing. Sets off the BHs a treat.

Am reviving this thread cos I was thinking of giving it a go and owndered if anyone else has. No one at my very bf friendly hospital has heard of it but I wangled some syringes and stoppers out of the midwives. Just don't want to induce labour.

anyone?

You also need to make sure that your not working the Uterus TOO MUCH ante-natally as this may result in an Atonic Uterus at the 3rd stage of labour which would result in a retained placenta and haemorrhage

i meant to type which MAY result in....

thats interesting, I wondered what were the down sides. I'm having to have a c-section though.

Hi all!

I've been advised by my b/f consultant at the Royal Berks to do this following a breast reduction a few years ago.

(I also read on the BFAR site that another woman with a reduction had been advised to do this.)

My consultant also said I could have a go at expressing now (from 30 weeks onward), just to see how it's working. Perhaps I should leave it till 37 weeks tho - what do you think?

Glad to find this thread

I had a particularly bad time trying to breast feed my daughter who is now 2 years old and found expressing was so much better for all of us. I'm now expecting twins and am hoping to express again but was worried about what i would give them at birth.

With my daughter they had trouble stitching me up after an episiotomy so i was unable to feed her. she was starving and for a long time i found this a very distressing memory which i'm keen not to go through again! Clearly there will be a delay whilst baby 2 is delivered.

I produced loads of colostrum antenatally last time so i'm not worried so much about supply or collection as i occasionally hand expressed for my daughter - i'm just wondering when it would be safe to start collecting as twins tend to be born much earlier.

Will definately discuss it with the midwife and the hospital and see what they suggest but what are your thoughts?

Thanks

Helen

I expressed from about 35 weeks with both of mine, no particular risk factors just didn't want to give formula early and am very aware that newborns feed a lot. With ds he fed for a few hours and then I gave him half of what I'd got out in the pregnancy (about 20ml), he then continued feeding for ages until I gave him the rest when he finally settled. Did help me to have some sleep that night (was the second or third night I think) I did not have any supply problems despite having topped him up. Each day for the first week or so I would express in the morning to give him when he had been feeding a lot at night. Did not always need to give it to him, but was nice to know that it was in the fridge if necessary.

maxbear - that's really interesting. Cam I ask - did you hand express from 35 weeks or use a pump? How did you freeze it? M/w said something about using a icecube tray but I am a bit confused about the logistics and how to get everything sterile etc.

expressing before giving birth shouldn't cause any problems. women can breastfeed another child right through pregnancy.

read mear's long post below with regards to your questions, lucysnowe

ooh you're right kkd. I just hope my community m/w can give me the stuff!

I am thinking about trying to collect colostrum. Great info mears, as usual.

I hand expressed colostrom both pg from 35 weeks. BF counsellors at hospital advised hand expressing into those little cups you get handed medicine in, then transferred to the normal (Lansinoh?)breast milk freezer storage bags. It is an absolutely piddly amount to start but with me kind of worked on a supply and demand basis - had litres of the stuff by the time DC arrived (and both times had no problems myself and no problems with DC bf so all went down the sink

What a shame stripey It would be interesting to know if you could donate it to a milk bank.

I have just hooked into this thread and it has been fascinating and hugely useful.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed - now just need to speak to someone to get the syringes, caps etc.

Can anyone explain why just bring directly isn't good enough if the baby has low blood sugar?