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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Expressing colostrum - help!

26 replies

coveredinsnot · 20/08/2015 21:42

Hi just hoping someone can offer me some words of wisdom. I'm supposed to be expressing colostrum in preparation for the birth of my baby. I'm currently 36 weeks, I have gestational diabetes which is why I am doing this.

I know it helps to relax, but I hate the feeling of it. No idea if I'm doing it right. The more I try the more agitated and annoyed I get which obviously is not going to help.

Anyone else having to do this, or done it in the past? Any advice? I've looked on YouTube for videos and found two which were helpful but still only managed to get the tiniest bit of colostrum, not even an actual drop!

Really really want to do this! Help!

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OttersPocket · 20/08/2015 23:07

Hi, this was discussed here a couple of weeks ago: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/2447745-Hand-expressing-colostrum-during-pregnancy-any-experience.

It might help :)

Original poster

coveredinsnot · 21/08/2015 05:38

Thank you!

OP posts:

ARV1981 · 21/08/2015 06:26

I've been advised by my midwife to hand express every day. I don't have gd. MW said she recommends all "her ladies who plan to breastfeed" do this.

I saw my hv for the first time on Tuesday and mentioned this, and said I could only get a few drops (like you I'm 36 weeks), she said I should try in the bath.

I don't know if that's helpful at all as you need to collect yours whereas I don't, so might prove difficult. But maybe try it to see if you get a "flow"? I must admit I haven't tried this yet myself so can't give any personal experience, just what hv said if that makes sense?

Good luck with it

Original poster

coveredinsnot · 21/08/2015 13:32

Thanks! That's helpful
Seems crazy to recommend people to hand express anyway but I'm guessing your midwife has way more knowledge than me, given she's professionally trained and all.... Good luck with it too

OP posts:

ARV1981 · 21/08/2015 15:47

Yes, I thought it a bit odd, but if it helps me get the hang of bfing then I'm all for it! Also, you're right - mw is the trained professional.

smokedgarlic · 21/08/2015 16:00

The only advice I can give is that you need to be completely relaxed in a quiet private space and visualising your baby . I always found hand expressing hard but without the right environment it's impossible !

thewebbleyjess · 22/08/2015 03:57

I had some worrying - & pretty painful - unsuccessful early attempts. But then in the shower one morning I noticed a drop or too. 36 weeks is pretty early; and I think it's so you can go through the learning before, say, 38 weeks. Which is when I've been told to try and collect from.

So good luck; and wish me luck for Monday fiddling around with mini bottles!!

(GD sucks, doesn't it: but I am glad to be getting extra BF support!)

Original poster

coveredinsnot · 22/08/2015 05:20

GD does indeed suck! I don't seem to have it too badly though which is good. Really very helpful to think of the period of time before 38 weeks as practice time! Totally takes the pressure off! Thank you

OP posts:

YeOldeTrout · 22/08/2015 07:15

I don't know about GD, but from what I read the prenatal expressing hasn't got a big track record of success for GD mums anyway.
Expressing prenatally sounds like Hell to me, hope your milk comes in quickly after all so it won't matter.

Original poster

coveredinsnot · 22/08/2015 12:19

Yes it is a pain in the arse tbh! I had a cesarean last time and my milk came in fine. I'm not really anticipating having problems breastfeeding this time round either, I'll keep trying with the expressing but if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen.

OP posts:

thewebbleyjess · 23/08/2015 22:29

I think the reason they promote it for GD people is increased risk of delayed milk coming in (which expressing in advance can help with) & increased risk of low blood sugars in baby after birth (also coz they are looking for it) & having any expressed stuff reduces need / push for either formula or glucose drip....

Anyone got other / different advice, from a GD perspective?

ARV1981 · 23/08/2015 22:47

I had my breastfeeding workshop with NCT and the lady there said they recommend expressing colostrum if you have gd as it's the very best thing for getting baby's blood sugar normalised.

She was horrified that my midwife had suggested I express (I don't have gd) so I've stopped trying - only ever got a couple of drops out anyway.

Original poster

coveredinsnot · 24/08/2015 08:52

Yes ARV I did think it odd as have never heard of anyone being recommended to do that without gd
Best to let mother nature do what she does best

OP posts:

thewebbleyjess · 24/08/2015 14:54

So - the thing about colostrum, as I'm sure ye all know, is it's really sticky... Any tips about best / most appropriate / vaguely sterile ways to get little beads from nipples into collection bottle....?

TIA!

Original poster

coveredinsnot · 25/08/2015 13:25

Collect in small syringes, with a cap on the end
Take the plunger part out of the syringe and collect drips straight into the tube.

OP posts:

Dildals · 25/08/2015 14:37

You can get the syringes from your midwife or birthing centre! You can also sterilise a little weaning pot or express straight in to the special freezer bags for breast milk.

firsttimekat · 25/08/2015 20:28

When I was collecting due to GD I was advised to listen to a baby crying to help with visualising needing to feed a baby. I thought it sounded really odd, but thought it was worth a go and got a you tube clip of a baby crying while I tried and it worked! I only did it a couple of times but it seemed to help kick start things. I didn't hVe any problems after he arrived so didn't need to use the expressed colostrum then but did use it a couple of times in the middle of the night in the first week as I was getting breast feeding established and found it really helpful.

Good luck!

Original poster

coveredinsnot · 25/08/2015 20:32

The baby crying is an excellent idea! I'm going to give that a go

OP posts:

AuditAngel · 25/08/2015 23:20

I didn't have GD, but DD2 was born at 36+1 and had no interest in feeding.

When asked to hand express colostrum after EMCS the MW was staggered to come back to a feeding cup full.

I had hand expressed whilst pregnant, just because I could.

thewebbleyjess · 26/08/2015 12:04

Crying baby sound seems so sad: I
With DD1 we have been very gentle so crying is an anathema. Gonna have to get used to early baby crying again though, I guess

thewebbleyjess · 26/08/2015 16:00

Did anyone get SUPER HUNGRY once expressing started?

Original poster

coveredinsnot · 26/08/2015 19:14

thewebbley crying babies not sad, just a biological reality - I used to squirt milk whenever my son cried when he was a baby, lots of women leak milk when they hear babies crying. Nature is amazing!

OP posts:

Gingernut81 · 28/08/2015 17:04

My health visitor suggested doing this the other day. Aside from midwife where can I get syringes with caps, had a look on the internet & ones with caps seem quite expensive.

Original poster

coveredinsnot · 28/08/2015 18:00

I don't know but perhaps asking in boots or any other chemists. I just got extras from my midwife.

OP posts:

Dildals · 29/08/2015 21:36

I tried expressing colostrum with a youtube vid of a crying baby and finally had some success!

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