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.