When I had my DD, they only took her to SCN long enough to test her BSLs and top her up. After that she was free to come to my room and I just brought her to them at the designated time for her BSL to be done - will they let you do that at all?
She only had 2 low BSLs, first was after her first feed and she was topped up with 10 mL of formula - I wish it had've been colostrum but that's another story. The next test was also low, but I gave her a feed after it and it came back up to normal so they were happy with that. I reckon if you had about 20 to 30 mL if you can manage it that would be heaps, but I'd be having a chat with them to see what their protocols are with regards to what BSL levels they top up at, how often they expect bub to feed and how much at each feed etc.
My understanding is that it's OK to add to the syringe of frozen colostrum as long as you chill the fresh lot you are adding first.
Oh and make sure they don't try and top up with bottles, my SCN were going to until I insisted she be fed by cup instead - she wasn't sick enough to need tube feeding.
It's unfathomable that any hospital would implement a policy that was known to put at risk the wellbeing of a mother and baby.....just "because it is policy".
You are doing a great job being so proactive in this. Whist expressing will stimulate the release of oxytocin, this will not act on the uterus unless the uterus is "ready" to go in to labour - so don't worry about this. Often mothers are warned against expressing, when no-one would consider asking them to refrain from sex and orgasm, which also releases oxytocin.
The quantities of colostrum are going to be small, though it varies from woman to woman. Be gentle with yourself - nipples can be sensitive at this time.
The Australian Breastfeeding Association have a good paper on antenatal expressing - give them a call. It's by Sue Cox and is from their journal "Breastfeeding Review"
Thank you so much for putting me in touch with Ellyce KMN......We had to go in for routine CTG monitoring today and I went up to the ward and she happened to be there..we had a great chat. She reckons five mls yesterday was awesome and to keep it up and gave my some specimen jars to better store it rather than in the syringes. Apparently the SCN policy is a fairly recent one and came about after a baby that shouldn't have been let out to the room was and bad things happened....her belief is that it will be reviewed in time as people like me kick up a fuss as she also agrees that it does seem a bit OTT to have such a blanket policy so she has given me the business card for the unit manager to ring tomorrow to "have a chat" to....and believe me I will be having a chat!!!
She did also say that if Connor is still in SCN later in the day of delivery they will get me up a wheel me down to him if possible......so I have a few avenues of investigation to follow up on. So we are aiming to get about 80-100 mls of colostrum stored between now and delivery day which would mean even I wasnt able to feed him myself there would be zero need for formula...so at least I have a plan now.....best case scenario we never need to use it but it will be there just in case!
Oh and to answer whoever said make sure I have a room near SCN...they are all near the SCN in Jesse Mac...the SCN and nurses station are kinda in the centre with the rooms in a square formation around it if that makes sense, so I know he will not be far away!
I know it will be more invasive but if there are problems with his BLS they can do a drip instead of formula, and they can have it for a few days as well.
DD was born with extremely low BLS of 0.9, she was on a drip and they also gave her formula, I was upset that I never got asked or approved giving of formula and I had no idea that they could have kept giving her what she needed through a drip - she had it on her arm for 5 days! So was no more invasive!!
I think it was all too much stress for me, a Midwife came up and hand expressed, OMG wasn't prepared for that, it was sooo painful and I would get so upset trying, as I was constantly competing against what the Paed were prescribing, everytime I got close to having enough they would up it, I just wanted the formula to stop, and I was trying so hard but I just couldn't express very much at all.
I think it is wonderful that you are being so prepared, I know that next time I would like to be more prepared as well, but based on my history I wouldn't be able to start trying until quite late, but I am planning on a FT bubba next time so won't need the NICU or SCN
When ever he is in SCN, try for kangaroo cuddles as much a possible, lots of lovely skin to skin, it really does make a huge difference.
You are doing a wonderful thing for Connor, what an amazing mumma you are
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wasn't prepared for that, it was sooo painful and I would get so upset trying, as I was constantly competing against what the Paed were prescribing, everytime I got close to having enough they would up it, I just wanted the formula to stop, and I was trying so hard but I just couldn't express very much at all.
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