Expressing before birth?

[Barb Glare]

Hi,
In some circumstances Lactation consultants suggest that a mother try to express some colostrum for her baby before birth. You don't actually get a "supply" - but a few mls. But in certain circumstances, this can really be liquid gold.
In most circumstances there is no need. Your baby is born, put on your tummy, and then with your gentle assistance will go to your breast within the first hours. In some cases, for instance, where a mother has gestational diabetes, will be small for dates or the mother knows she will have to have a general anaesthetic, she may gently express some of her colostrum before the birth. This is not uncomfortable, but you are only getting mls of milk - a few drops. Many mothers use a 5ml syringe, and suck the drip off colostrum into the syringe. You can freeze it and take it to hospital with you. If you are unable to feed your baby for some reason, and the baby needs to be fed early, this could be vital.
There was recently an article on this in The Australian Breastfeeding Association's 'Breastfeeding Review" It's peer reviewed journal for health professionals - you might be able to get a copy if you call them (03)885 0855
Hope that answers some of your questions
Warm Regards
Barb

[Michelle71]

A LC I know suggests commencement of expressing at 36 weeks (knowing you only get a few mls of colostrum each time) for women who have PCOS due to the anecdotal difficulties they have in establishing supply. I have no evidence to back this up but she believes this has been of assistance for her clients that she sees prior to birth.

You will not get large amounts and there is no real need to express prior to birth. The *liquid gold* may be valuable if you are likely to experience any of the circumstances Barb outlined but otherwise enjoy the time leading up to the birth of your little girl without the extra work or pressure.

[{sarah}]

Nope, no GD here at all. The reason i asked was beacuse of the issues I had last time with my milk not coming in at all. AT this point (and for quite a while) I can hand express a few drops so wondered if it would make a difference in the long run to do it properly now. Sounds like it won't make much difference at all.

[paradise lost]

Sarah with sections there can often be a delay in the milk coming in. Did you never get milk last time? Did youhave any signs at all it was in (harder boobs, "full" feeling, leaking"? My friend just had a section and waited 6 long days for her milk AND her baby blues!

I read somewhere it was possibly linked to the third stage and the fact that manual extraction doesn't allow the same hormonal changes as the placenta coming away itself (not sure if injectable sintocin augmentation of 3rd stage had any effect, didn't mention it). Blood loss is also a factor - milk is a blood product, so if you're busy making more blood after an operation there's gonna be a delay in making milk.

You don't need to fret about this, you're not having another section, so you're milk will come in GREAT. Envision jets of blueish nectar on day 3

Bx

[{sarah}]

Nup not a thing Bx, there was very very small amounts of milk when I expressed but that was it. No hardness, fullness, nothing.

Tonight though when I was holding my friend's 3 month old little man & he started to cry my boobs were all tingly, so I'm hoping that's a good sign - that they responded to a crying bub IYKWIM.

[paradise lost]

Do you have a history of PCOS Sarah? Or any other underlying hormonal things? I hate to say this but it could have been your thyroid...you're on meds for that now right?

Bx

[{sarah}]

Really? I am on meds now, we didn't know about the thyroid at that point either. I had no idea that it could affect BF. And nope no PCOS. All perfectly healthy bar the thyroid.

[Rouge]

I strongly believe pumping before hand with Paris enabled me to breastfeed successfully (before external interference) because even though I had PCOS and was borderline GD and had PCOS (apparently all things that stop milk coming in) my milk was in abundance by the second day. Seth whom I didn't pump for prior to his birth my milk didn't come in till 48 hours post birth.

If you're worried it can't hurt, providing its not too before EDD as it can cause contrax, and as my OB said to me if it starts labour that isn't the real deal and the cervix isn't ready it can cause problems in itself.