Hand Expressing at 37 weeks but will it dry up?

[redwine143]

I want to hand express colostrum to take with me to the hospital for labour as a back up. If I start now at 37 weeks do I then have to do it constantly/daily until the birth? If I do it for a week to get a few syringes and then stop would this risk my boobs drying up before labour/the birth? It may be a very silly question but I couldn’t find an answer on any of the NHS guides about hand expressing!

Having a few syringes of colostrum with you is a great plan.

There's no worry about drying up if you stop etc - your body makes colostrum because of the pregnancy hormones, not supply and demand at this stage. After birth, once the placenta is out, the hormones change to make your breasts make mature milk, then supply and demand come in to play.

Good luck!