Dumb question about boobs during pregnancy:-

[dejags]

I am pregnant with my third child. During my previous two pregnancies if I squeezed my boobs (from about 30 weeks onwards) a tiny amount of colostrum would appear.

This time around (22 weeks gone), I am actually leaking i.e. I was wearing a black bra today and when I got undressed tonight could see that breast pads might be on the shopping list this week.

I have had a breast reduction, so on the one hand am delighted and this might mean there has been some recanalisation (don't ask it's a BF after reduction term).

On the other hand - and here comes the silly part, this doesn't mean I am about to go into labour does it?

Silly thing to be anxious about, I know but any reassurance would be great.

TIA
dejags

A lot of people "leak" during pregnancy, it's quite normal and doesn't mean you will go into labour early, honestly

However it does sound as if you may well be able to breastfeed if you wanted to! You can actually express colostrum before birth to encourage lactation I think (but do ask about this, am not totally sure, but I think I have read it on here).

Don't worry! (easier said than done, I know!!)

Thanks Miaou - I knew it was a silly thing but just wanted to be sure.

On the expressing front - I would love to do this. However, I heard that "tweaking" can stimulate the onset of labour so I don't want to fiddle unnecessarily.

Is this always true or is it only true if your body is ready for labour?

i leaked colostrum in both pregnancies from about 24 weeks or so....to the point by the last few weeks, i would wake up soaked in milk if i didn;t sleep with a bra and breast pads on

it is not a sign of prem labour

unless you are having contractions or a show or leaking fluid in which case you should be checked out asap.

re the tweaking

sustained nipple stim for a good while towards the end of pregnancy can help release the hormones that help stimulate labour, but it is more than a bit of filling with your nipples

and will only work if you are approaching labour

try not to worry!

Thanks Lulumama.

Not so much worried as hopeful that I will be able to feed my last baby (a little girl after two boys - YIPPPPEEE).

If I can freeze the colostrum between now and when the baby is born (not sure how long frozen BM can be kept for) I would be soo happy.

I failed miserably at feeding DS1, DS2 was slightly better but real feeding was never established. How I would love to feed my little girl myself.

God - I sound so mushy (ewwww ),

Dejags I didn;t know you were pregnant honey!
Congrats I'm 31 wks
hopefully sounds like good news re feeding

not sure re how long you can keep frozen colostrum etc..

but hope the feeding goes fabulously !

Thanks Piffle!

I have been having a MN holiday for the past four months. I got too pissed off on too many threads so I threw a little wobbler and took a fair while to cool off.

Am back now but stick to the threads I know will deffo not wind me up.

So only 9 weeks to go - how has the pregnancy been?

Cheers LM - no doubt there will be a thread similar to LTH's in May to keep you updated.

Anybody know how long colostrum can be safely frozen for?

i was producing colostrum from 16 weeks

Kellymom site...everything to know about breastfeeding

looking forward to your 'am in labour' thread!

same here i didnt show any leakage till 30 weeks with ds now this time around i started at 18 weeks

dejags been really good thanks
Bar the appendicitis at 21 wks that left me pretty ill for 3 wks, I've been fine
No return of the hyperemesis I had with dd, and yep it's a little boy
From the scna at 29 wks, he thumb sucks has long legs and chubby prominent cheeks
Cannot wait he is out.
Have been tryingfor this little one since Jan 2003!
hope your pregnancy is equally hassle free

I didn't know you were pregnant dejags - many congrats

Thanks KR

This pregnancy has been bloody awful Piffle. I was sick till 16 weeks (all day vomiting), then vomiting at night until 20 weeks. I haven't vomited for nearly two weeks now but I still feel nauseous at night. The memory of weeks 7 - 11 are some of the worst of my life, I was sick up to 10 times a day and couldn't lift my head off a pillow somedays (not an experience I'd like to repeat in a hurry).

Two upsides - one is the little girl we'll get at the end (I had nothing like the morning sickness with my boys) and two I haven't put on nearly as much weight . Not sure if what I had was classed HD but I am sure it was damn close.

Went and bought my first pink baby clothes today - it was a really weird but good feeling. I am so excited about this pregnancy now and trying to enjoy every minute as we are sure it will be our last.

.. meant HG, not HD ...

I know I puked endlessly at one stage 20-30 s day with dd.
curiously I put on more weight in first 2 trimesters with dd than this time with no sickness! All I ate with dd was tomato soup and grated fresh pears.
Bizarre
I've hardly put on any weight this time - I think it's giving up the booze
Sorry you're sick but I've never held it against dd, she is the love of my life!