Breast/formula/colostrum milk questions

[OnNaturesCourse]

I'm nearly 35 weeks and it's dripping out of me already (enough to make me stick to my bras anyway)

Out of curiosity I hand expressed a bit the other day and was surprised at how much I got.

I know it's not advised to hand express this early so I'm not doing anymore but I have ordered some breast shells that claim to collect any that drips - and hopefully save my bras.

None of my babies have taken to breastfeeding (and to be honest I've never pushed it) but with my last baby my milk came in floods so bad I was soaking pads compared to my first when my milk just didn't come in at all.

I now wonder if I should maybe give it another try, or atleast try and store the colostrum and feed baby that in the early days. As my body seems to be giving hints at now knowing what to do a bit better.

I'd prefer, if possible, to feed baby primarily, if not exclusively, through bottles (or syringes?). No real immediate reason, just preference to start but there will be times after the first few weeks where I will be away from baby with my older DCs commitments.

I understand that if I continue past the colostrum stage I could combo feed (right term?) where I express milk for bottles but that is a lot of work in terms of needing time to express and sterilise etc. Or there is the opition of formula feeding alongside some expressed milk but assume this has the same issues in terms of time and effort. Also that it can cause tummy upsets in babies.

All that said the combo feeding is something I would like to explore more so I wonder if there is anyone out there that has experience of it?

Edited to add : if I do express milk/colostrum how do I store it and then use it? I've seen online people expressing throughout the day and adding it into a big mason jar but then I've read the milk shouldn't be mixed so it's a bit conflicting. In terms of the colostrum I understand that needs to be frozen, can it be done in the syringes used to collect and how do I defrost/warm up?

I will speak with my midwife about all this at my next appointment in a few weeks but trying to sort things and options out in my head in the mean time.

No experience of combo feeding but I did pay for a lactation consultant who was incredibly helpful with colostrum and breastfeeding, she visited me in hospital and at home. I know she helped my friend, who did choose to combo feed. So I would look into paying for one, it might help you loads.

I collected 10 syringes of colostrum and took them to hospital. It was very helpful. The lactation consultant was adamant you should try to give a bit of colostrum, even if you plan on formula, as it's so full of antibodies and good stuff for baby.

I thought you're not meant to introduce formula regularly until your supply is established, around 6 weeks. I imagine a random 1-2 bottles as a one off would be fine though?

You can express, but it's hard work. I have an elvie pump - it's great but too much work alongside breastfeeding so I gave up on it, I just EBF now.

Breastfeeding is much easier than bottle feeding after a certain point. My baby is 3 months now, sleeps through the night, and I don't need to think about bottles etc. He also has a milk allergy which is easier to manage, as I just need to avoid dairy whereas he would have to have specific formula which tastes shit and babies hate it.

I collected colostrum in syringes, which i got from my lactation consultant but you can buy off amazon. I would squeeze the breast with one hand and collect with syringes using other hand. First 2 syringes were hard work until I got the knack of it. Your DH could help do the syringe bit.

Alternatively you can express into a cup (which you absolutely must sterilize first) and then simply draw it up in the syringe.

I labelled each syringe with the date and popped them in the freezer. I then fed them to baby straight from the syringe. They defrost very quickly as it's a small quantity.

Thank you both.

Unfortunately a lactation consultant isn't in the budget at the moment but I do think it's a wonderful idea, and I will take help from midwife/breastfeeding clinic in my area.

I do want to, and likely won't be able to, EBF for the reasons I stated in my OP.

I have a hands free double electric pump already so could use that once baby is here providing my milk comes in like it did with my second, again with my first it just didn't ever come in.

If it’s leaking anyway just use a syringe (you can buy colostrum / bf syringes), express into it and freeze. this is what I did and I basically used it to supplement breast.

The antibodies are another reason I want to give this colostrum a try.

I have DCs at home already who are always bringing home winter bugs and when I had my second baby there was a scare at 10 days old when my eldest had suspected chickenpox and then tonsillitis. It went on for weeks with someone in the family being poorly and I was so worried about new baby. I'd like to give as much protection as possible this time round knowing how it can now go with newborns and older DCs.

@CocoDC do you think I'd be best just collecting what is leaking right now and then physically hand expressing in a few weeks? Or since it's leaking anyway the expressing won't cause any issues? I've been told by my midwives etc that it can cause pre term labor or worsening braxton hicks (which I'm already struggling with quite badly)

Yes do it. Every drop of colostrum is worth it. I collected some with special colostrum syringes you can buy on amazon, i think after 37 wks, kept me busy! then stored them all dated in the freezer. Defrosted fast so take them out just a couple hrs before you want to feed with them. They are a great back up plan if you don't want to actually breastfeed, just express. Or even if you do intend on exclusively breastfeeding they are good to have as a back up plan.

You can hand express colostrum from 37 weeks so not far off.
You may not even need to use them and may be able to just feed baby directly but they can really come in handy if you have any problems in the hospital and means you know baby’s first feeds will 100% be breastmilk and not formula.

@amispeakingintongues I have noticed a lot of people dating them - do they need used in a certain time frame? Or is it just so you are using the oldest first?

@fashionqueen0123 I won't be EBF so I guess my collected colostrum plus formula will need to be what baby gets. It's either that or solely formula as I'm not keen on EBF.

Edit - sorry that sounded blunt, not meant to be! Just won't be EBF as after the first few weeks there will be times when I'm not with baby.

Yes I understand that - but you only need colostrum for a couple of days so sounds like if you’re already leaking you’ll have a lot :) after that it’s milk so I guess don’t worry about collecting tons of it! As you won’t need huge amounts.

How much would you say I need?

Coming from a formula Muma whose babies were taking 2 to 4 oz of formula from birth.

You shouldn’t be hand expressing until 37 weeks as it can bring on labour as it makes your uterus contract (same as when you breast feed or pump). But if it’s just dripping out no harm in collecting it. I’d personally just chuck some breast pads in and wait to collect it in one go when you are past 37 weeks.

I have pads but just feel they are a waste, so I've got those wearable collection shells to hopefully save what I'm leaking anyway.

I'll wait to hand express but even at 37 weeks I'm reluctant as my babies have been born before 40 weeks anyway

@OnNaturesCourse I always leak loads! With my first it was lock down so I didn't bother but then with my second I used the collectible shells and collected it in syringes and dated them and put them in the freezer ready for when baby was here. If you leak enough it's worth collecting rather than wasting as it was in my experience 😊

I’m pretty sure you can stockpile for several months but if you are already 35 wks you’ll be using them all up within the next couple of months anyway. Google how long you can store breastmilk in freezer but i’m certain its like 12 months! You will likely use them all very quickly.

Thank you all.

Appricate all the help as I'm a bit clueless.

You can buy a breastmilk collector and just use that.

I used the hakaa

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Hi there it's a midwife with specialist training in infant feeding. In my hospital we don't recommend hand expressing before 37 weeks as it is thought it could bring on preterm labour. Baby is full term from 37 weeks. If you are leaking you might consider breastfeeding bra pads before then. With the leaking you describe you won't have difficulties with hand expressing enough colostrum to feed your baby. I personally won't recommend hand expressing in advance for someone in your situation. Every drop of colostrum and breast milk counts, you don't have to commit yourself to EBF for your baby to benefit. It is true what people say in terms of pumping breast milk and feeding from a bottle- it is much more hassle this way than just letting a baby to feed from the breast. However it is always an option and whatever works for you. If you choose to breast feed (or feed breast milk from a bottle) you will save money on formula. Breastfeeding support groups will give you advice how to stop breastfeeding if you need to be separated from your baby. In a nutshell you will need to manage it with expressing for comfort only and cold compresses to avoid the risk of mastitis. Well done for considering the breastfeeding. I suggest you treat it like an adventure. I had a client once who only formula fed her first 2 children. She brought 18 cartons of formula with her. I suggested she treats breastfeeding like an adventure and take it one feed at a time. The woman had to stay on the postnatal ward for 3 days with high blood pressure. When I went to see her at the end of 3 days she still had her 18 unused cartons of formula in her bag, baby was feeding beautifully at the breast and her milk was in. The woman was very happy with how it all turned out. I hope it helps and good luck with whatever you decide

I think if there was a chance of me not being separated from baby for afternoons or evenings at a time then I'd be more open to EBF but as it stands baby will need to take a bottle from someone and I'd rather not risk the confusion...if that makes sense?

I am not hand expressing any more, it was just curiosity really the other day - and it didn't take much to get going so I did stop pretty quickly too as I knew the risk if I continued.

I have my shells on now and already have a small amount just dripped in. If nothing else they are comfier than the pads.

Thank you for the advice, really informative and nice to hear from a professional too.

I've worn these cup things for a few hours now and have got 4ml of colostrum leak combined... Is this normal?

I always say every drop of colostrum and breast milk counts so well done for exploring options. Yes, we do hear about babies refusing bottles. However it happens to older babies. The little ones are more likely to refuse the breast as it's so much easier to drink from a bottle. I exclusively breastfed both children. However with my 2nd I introduced one bottle a day from 4 weeks just to give me that little bit of flexibility. This meant I could go Christmas shopping etc and my husband could feed the baby. I used to breastfed first thing in the morning, wait an hour, pump and keep this milk in the fridge for later. Women's breasts usually make more milk in the mornings when women had rest. Breast milk could be kept in the fridge for up to 6 days as it has antimicrobial properties. I do swear by evidence that breast milk protects against infection. I still remember a horrible week when I had a nasty chest infection and taking antibiotics, my husband had a nasty cold, our toddler had tonsillitis and was on antibiotics and we were so sick we had Muller Rice puddings as our Christmas dinner. The only person who didn't get ill was the exclusively breastfed 6 weeks old baby 😅. He got one episode of diarrhoea and that was it. You might also explore the local breastfeeding support groups. Midwives and volunteers supporting those groups are very easy going and are trained to support women in their choices. Our job is give women information not to dictate what women need to do with their lives and bodies.

@Kosenrufugirl yes Christmas is somewhat factoring into my decision as well.

I think I'll just go with the flow and not add pressure to myself but having said that, my shells have collected just over 4ml in a few hours so I do wonder if my body wants this!

Maybe it's the way to go?!Just think of the extra Christmas shopping you will be able to afford by putting your boobs to work. Formula costs do add up in the long run😄