Expressing colostrum before birth- help please!

[Thecaravan]

I am due to have a planned c section in a couple of weeks and it's looking likely that I'll have to have a general anaesthetic due to severe scoliosis. (Dd was an emergency c section under general). Last time I think the nurses gave DD a bit of formula until I came round from the anaesthetic but was wondering whether I could express a bit of colostrum in advance for this next baby. I've no idea how to go about doing that though! When should I start try to get some out? Do I use a breast pump? How do I store it? Sorry am totally clueless!

When pregnant with dd, I had a stash of colostrum and it was really helpful in the first couple of weeks.

Buy a load of 1ml syringes from Amazon. Think it's £10 for a box of 100.
Don't use a breast pump as it'll damage the breast tissue if you're not producing real milk yet.
Hand express and use the syringe to suck it up bit by bit.
Store it in your freezer (I had all my syringes in freezer bags with dates on in a Tupperware in the freezer)

To defrost, put the syringe in a glass of warm (not hot) water.

Hope this helps xx

Absolutely hand express before your section, it's great to have a stash of colostrum for these circumstances. Chat to you midwife, she should be able to help and provide you with syringes.

www.laleche.org.uk/antenatal-expression-of-colostrum/

www.laleche.org.uk/antenatal-expression-of-colostrum/

Huh my link isn't coming up, I think it is an app issue. It's info on hand expressing from the la leche league.

Thank you so much both of you. That's really helpful to know. Will get some syringes and start practising!

This site has instructions

www.mkuh.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Expressing-Colostrum-Antenatally.pdf

Just ask at your hospital, I was given a kit with syringes etc at my 36 week appointment. We read the instructions but didn't use it as baby came the following day.

Thank you all. I'm not UK based so don't have a midwife here. Will read the links and get hunting for syringes. Thanks again

Exho what others have said - into syringes. I had about 25ml prior to ds birth. I had emcs and supply was fine but I kept them in the freezer and used when he had his first sniffle in a bottle.

I got best results doing it in a warm bath. Good luck!

Just wanted to add, don't worry if you can't manage to express any before the birth. I tried so hard, but I wasn't able and I almost drove myself mad over it. Kicked straight in though after DS was born though. Good luck

No pump, you’ll lose it. I did a lot of hand expressing into a (sterilised) plastic spoon, and then into syringes. You can then freeze them (good idea label them) and take to hospital in a cool bag :)

1ml syringes are best as they won’t take much at first :)