Expressing before birth?

[MadRainbow]

Currently 35 weeks pregnant with DC2 and keep having stabby pains in my boobs, particularly the right side. I massage the boobs slightly and the pain morphs into an ache a bit like just before a letdown but get no milk.

I have discovered (this time around) that I have managed to hand express some milk but I worry about doing this properly at 35 weeks. My DD was born at 37 weeks and was perfect so I'm not concerned from then on I was just wondering if anyone had any specific advice about it as the pains are starting to get quite uncomfortable.

Also is there a possibility of mastitis at this stage? Milk is very yellow (again not bothered I know what colostrum looks like) but don't want to bother HCP about it needlessly.

Just bumping this up the once

I started hand expressing and storing colostrum from about 36 weeks with my second. My first was born at 36 weeks and my second at 40+4. I think the chances of it starting labour are pretty low, otherwise every frustrated overdue mum would be doing it constantly!

I expressed colostrum before birth once 37 weeks so technically full term. DS born at 40+3. I was very glad I did because I had a haemorrhage and my milk came in late - so DS got frozen colostrum.

I expressed colostrum from 37 - 42 weeks. From what I read, it can stimulate uterine contractions but it takes a lot!

Thank you ladies, my boobs are just starting to get so uncomfortable now I was hoping to start earlier than I had planned to but didn't want to trigger anything too early

I think my midwife said to start doing it from week 36.
I did it with my first from week 39 (mainly to induce labour but it did come in handy when DS wouldn't feed due to being so lethargic from infection)

This time I plan to start at week 36.

Howevrr, Your last baby was born a little early-ish so perhaps advice from an HCP might be wise.

The advice generally is that you can start to hand express from 37 weeks onwards; I think there is a small risk that it can encourage premature labour if done too early
abm.me.uk/expressing-milk-baby-arrives-antenatal-expression-colostrum/

Same as PP. It was a godsend when baby had jaundice and was too sleepy to feed - just a little bit gave her the energy to latch and keep her weight loss low.