expressing colostrum & storage

- mods if this is in the wrong section feel free to move-

I think bundy has eaten my brain. i'm expressing colostrum as a way of "helping things along" and im expressing strait into a syringe, now while my due date isn't for another week (but we all know i could go upto 13 days over) i had a question and did a quick search of BB about colostrum and expressing it but it didn't come up with any info.

my question is can i freeze the colostrum? or will that make to big a difference?
the other part of my expressing colostrum is that my DS ended up in SCN for a week post-birth so i guess in my own mind its a "JIC" type back up - making sure i have some pre-expressed colostrum if needed.
plus i've also had a little bit of leakage so i thought why waste it!

thank-you in advance!

yep you can freeze it :)

Dansta, they are good questions. Usually expressing ante-natally isn't recommended, except where there is a condition like GD. But there are certainly mums out there who have had a previous baby in SCN and want to have some stocks in case. If it gives you some reassurance then I think that's helpful.

There isn't a lot of information about freezing colostrum, but from my memory I think it is the same as EBM. I am sure mums with GD who express ante-natally must freeze their stocks. I would think that some of the live factors in it would be reduced by the freezing process, but it would be still be far better for a young baby than anything else.

All the best hun.

Just jumping in and asking a question, I won't be expressing it for many weeks to come, but as bubba will likely be a SCBU or NICU bub, and if we made it to 32-34 weeks what are your thoughts on epxressing some colustrum then, still too risky/early? I jsut struggled hugely with milk for DD and want to get a bit of a stockpile up as well if possible... but I am not talking about anytime soon :)

Beema, it would be a good idea to discuss that with a medical professional. Most health professionals recommend not expressing before 36 weeks so as to avoid the risk of uterine contractions inducing labour. I think the risk is probably only theoretical and low, but nevertheless it might be an idea to have medical advice before doing it, especially if you are at risk of pre-term labour anyway.

Thanks Manta I will do that, I will see what my OB's thoughts are, I know of some who have started earlier but not something I want to take a risk on.

thanks MR. Im glad colostrum can be frozen like EMB. it does make me feel more at ease with having a store of it there if this bub was to go into SCN for any reason.

In the past, I have frozen colostrum antenatally because I had GD. It does freeze just like EBM - I think it defrosts quicker and that is the difference. Due to the high levels of fat in colostrum, it can defrost transporting it to hospital. Mine had to be packed in ice to get it to the hospital without it defrosting. You also don't have to get much at a time for it to be effective. I think they still prefer new mums to do as much feeding as possible and expressed colostrum is used as a top up otherwise they give formula.

I have expressed for two babies now and have never experienced contractions as a result of it but I think every woman is different. I expressed under advice from the lactation consultant from 36 weeks.

Good luck with the upcoming birth of your baby, Dansta. Looking forward to your birth announcement :)

My information from my speciailst obstetrician before Connor was born is that the latest research has pretty much debunked the old wives tale of expressing inducing labour.....the most she said it might do is bring labour forward a few hours if you were already primed ready to go into labour. I pre expressed from 33 weeks with connor and was advised to freeze it every two days....so combine the two days worth and freeze as one lot........that worked welll for us....i just froze it in little specimen jars i got from the hospy. But definitely get your obs approval before pre expressing as every case is different.......

I had frozen colustrum that I kept for around 2 months before donating it. I think it is much the same as EBM.