Special syringes for storing colostrum

[Frangipani Lou]

Hi all,
I'm currently 34 1/2 weeks pg and wanting to start expressing and freezing my colostrum in a couple of weeks. I've been doing some research on it and it seems like the most efficient and hygienic way of storing it in the freezer is to express into a syringe that has a stopper in the end. I'm trying to be as prepared for bf because of the breast reduction I had 18 years ago.

I've asked at the hospital but they were vague about supplying me with them. The ABA forums have been good with technique but not with a supplier of the syringes.

Does anyone have access to or know where I can definitely get a supply of the syringes with stoppers? I'm hoping for some 3ml and 5ml ones. Happy to pay for the syringes and postage... just need a reliable supply!

Thanks

[Phteven]

Have you asked your local pharmacy? Even if they don't stock them they can probably order in for you.

[Frangipani Lou]

Yeah I did Onxy, got a really funny look and 'what would you need them for?' question! If I get really stuck, I'll go back and speak with one of the more senior staff or assistants

[Phteven]

People are so silly sometimes. Like it's any of their business what you need them for.

[Frangipani Lou]

I agree!! I'll also call the hospital pharmacy to see if they can help

[Maruschke]

I thought the chemist warehouse sold them? I'm pretty sure I remember seeing them on the shelves. I'm surprised your MW didn't supply them to you, mine was throwing them at me, but I guess she was really on top of colostrum expressing because of her work in the NICU/SCN.

[Pholi]

I gave up getting any further answers from Barb on this and decided to go ahead and start expressing anyway.

I bought the ones that don't have stoppers, but I got funny looks everywhere I asked until I added, 'just the syringes, no needles.' Staff have also been more helpful when I briefly say why I need them, ie 'I need to express and store colostrum in preparation for my baby being born.' (No, they shouldn't HAVE to know, but if it prompts people to be more helpful, I don't see why I shouldn't tell them!) Most pharmacies seem to have these stopperless ones - known as 'Oral administration' syringes in one place. You might need to ask the actual pharmacist, not just the assistants. I've been expressing straight into the syringe, labelling them with the date, and storing them in the same ziplock bag in the freezer. I pull a little air into the tip end of the syringe to allow for expansion in the freezer, and they seem to be fine!

After a few days of this I finally heard back from the hospital midwife who, once I'd made my history and intents clear, was very supportive. She said that the jury is still out on whether or not antenatal expression of colostrum can bring on prem labour, but agreed that at 38 weeks it was not a significant risk. Her 'feeling' is that it's fine, given that so many women successfully bf through pg anyway. She also emphasised that, especially since I am getting really good quantities already (like 1-2 ml in a session) it MAY not be needed and would therefore go to waste after baby is born... I suspect I'd just give baby a bit every day or two even if my milk comes in fine, just so it's not wasted, rather than toss it. But even if I were planning on tossing it, I'd prefer to be prepared and have it ready, than be in a position where baby really needed something to supplement and I had to give formula.

She also agreed that my method of collecting and storing was fine. She also made it clear that I need to pack it well with freezer blocks for transport, and make sure it goes immediately into the secure, designated hospital freezer, really clearly labelled and dated, if I take it with me when I go into labour. Others at bb have warned that stored colostrum can go missing from hospitals, there is something of a black market for it. I have decided to leave it at home to start with, and get my Mum to bring it in if we decide we might need it.

(Off topic, it was great to talk to her and I'm really glad I kept calling... she now knows who I am, knows that I'm really proactive, and will make a point of seeing me asap after the birth,a nd had suggested a proactive, rather than reactive, approach to increasing my supply, and she thinks supply issues will most likely be my biggest problem. )

Also, a mix of 3 and 5 ml syringes sounds sensible - I have been getting anywhere between 1 and 2.5 mls in a day, usually in one sitting, but it seems really variable - one day I'll get 2 ml easily, and the next it takes 2 sittings to get 1ml. Not sure why that is... Also I have days where the colour is darker or lighter, or it's thicker or thinner... lots of variables.

I hope that helps a bit, FL.

[Maruschke]

Pholi, have you considered donating your colostrum if you have excess? When DD2 was in SCN we would have given our right arms to have some colostrum in her gut . That stuff is liquid gold for premmies more than most people realise.

[Pholi]

Pholi, have you considered donating your colostrum if you have excess?

Hmm... I hadn't thought about it, but I guess I would, rather than give it to mine once I'm satisfied that my milk has come in sufficiently. Not sure how I'd go about it though... perhaps just talking to the LC before we leave the hospital? Would the babies who would benefit the most be in the big tertiary maternity hospital (KEMH in Perth), rather than the small private one (Mercy) we're using?

Someone else gave me a link to a fb group which 'shares' EBM, but it looked like a very quiet group, and I have very little faith in fb as a mechanism for achieving important things. I'd prefer a personal contact within the hospital involved.

[Maruschke]

I have used HM4HB if that is the site you are referring to. Milk banks are expensive to run so a small hospital probably doesn't have one or one near it . But you could try the site and see what happens. It is great of you to even consider it. I'm feeling hormonal at the moment and it made me cry a little o.O.

[Frangipani Lou]

Thanks guys,
I've linked in with a lactation consultant for education and support and she thinks she can get some from a supplier but would be in boxes of 100! So I may end up with some excess to pass/ sell on.
I also got some 10ml ones from chemist. They were $7 each so prob not the best option.

[Saffy]

Frangipani Lou-How many stoppers do you need ? I can 'procure' some from my work and post you an envelope full if you want. I think I have half a dozen floating around the bottom of my handbag.

Pholi- you won't waste your colostrum, just give it to your baby. You won't be able to donate ot a milk bank as they have a big screening process and often take only from mothers from the particular hopsital in question. Also I imagine they use larger volumes than colostrum as i think they heat treat it for safety too.