https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Fri, 08 May 2026 22:43:49 +0000 Fri, 09 Apr 2010 08:56:38 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.05 360 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=32664 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_images/web_wiz_forums.png https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/ https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=991580&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#991580 Author: Ashleigh
Subject: 32664
Posted: 09 April 2010 at 8:56am

this is a very interesting topic - I had an emergency c section, and lost a fair amount of blood. My baby was just over 10 pounds, and was on my boob 24/7! I demanded to see a lactation consultant about day 5 - he had rust in in his nappies and obviously not happy. I was in hosital for 7 days. My milk came in day 9 I think. I ended up feeding formula thru a nasogastric tube on my nipple and then expressing for 1/2 hr after each feed. I hired an electric pump for at home and had to do this for about another week after milk came in. Was either baby or pump on the boob -seemed like all day and all night! Anyway, am due in sept. and must say this is my biggest worry. My midwife did talk about expressing before birth, but I can't see how that will really work! My first baby had a good latch and very strong suck, so nipple stimulation was not a problem - just nothing there! I also had a lot of IV fluids, was so puffy 7 days later that couldn't even fit my feet into jandals and had to leave the hospital barefoot.   So any advice would be apreciated! I think i will contact La Leche league at some stage also. i did end up breast feeding exclusively and weaned my son at 22 months. I was not keen to stop - took that much effort to get going!]]> Fri, 09 Apr 2010 08:56:38 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=991580&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#991580 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=990641&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#990641 Author: squoggs
Subject: 32664
Posted: 08 April 2010 at 11:00am

Thanks, I was pretty curious as I had never heard of it before, but you pretty much all said what I originally thought. The girl who did this had IVF twins (which I didn't mention) and she is a solo-parent, so there could have been more to it than I thought.

I guess having an on-hand milk supply at the ready would be too good to be true ]]> Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:00:30 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=990641&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#990641 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=990385&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#990385 Author: bebebaby
Subject: 32664
Posted: 07 April 2010 at 10:13pm

I worked in SCBU, and was worried I wouldnt have enough milk for my baby, so contemplated hand expressing during pregnancy. However decided I was thinking "sickness" rather than healthy normal birth. (ie so used to seeing the 'bad' side of birth rather than normal births/babies)

So didn't express. And my baby was fine, there was enough milk, sure frequent feeding but it was all 'normal'.

I spoke to a private lactation consultant, and she said that to bring on labour with nipple stimulation it has to be frequent stimulation for a long time, ie an hour. So hand expressing is unlikely to bring on labour.
And as others have said, it would only be a few mls that you would be getting.
Unless there is a risk, ie diabetes, or likely that baby will have to go to SCBU/NICU then I would trust that nature will take its course.

Relax and enjoy your pregnancy.]]> Wed, 07 Apr 2010 22:13:33 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=990385&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#990385 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=989511&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#989511 Author: Mattsmum
Subject: 32664
Posted: 07 April 2010 at 1:49am

I hand expressed colostrum for a couple of weeks before DS was born, I had gestational diabetes and there was a chance his blood sugars could go really low immediately after birth and we needed something on hand.

I expressed 3 times a day and on really good day I would get 1 mil total for the day. The stimulation can bring on contractions, but I was in the situation where I needed to have an induction, so my MW was keen for me to try anything that could bring the baby on.]]> Wed, 07 Apr 2010 01:49:03 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=989511&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#989511 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988960&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988960 Author: maya22
Subject: 32664
Posted: 06 April 2010 at 1:44pm

minik8e wrote: Sharne - I was told that a premmie digestive system isn't developed enough until approx 34 weeks to digest any milk/colostrum?

Nope my premmie (30 weeks) was on expressed colustrum/ebm within an hour. It is liquid gold, every time I went to NICU with a syringe of 1ml or 5 ml the nurses all cheered me and my effort. ]]> Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:44:38 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988960&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988960 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988879&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988879 Author: Babykatnz
Subject: 32664
Posted: 06 April 2010 at 12:33pm

I hand expressed colostrum as I knew I would be having a c-section, which apparently can affect the milk 'coming in' as the hormonal triggers are delayed. I wasn't able to BF my eldest as I had no idea this could be done (he was a crash section, so I had no idea I wouldnt be giving birth myself!), and my midwife with jae was impressed that I had colostrum at the ready within an hour of the c-sect, I told her I'd been hand expressing and she was happy to hear that I'd found a way to kick-start BFing this time around. Granted I didnt start doing it until around 37 weeks JIC it started something, but it meant I had something there to offer baby as soon as she was born, rather than wait a couple of days for things to start happening 'naturally']]> Tue, 06 Apr 2010 12:33:50 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988879&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988879 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988673&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988673 Author: minik8e
Subject: 32664
Posted: 06 April 2010 at 8:55am

I hand expressed some colostrum a few times before the girls were born and when I told the MW afterwards, she growled at me because nipple stimulation can bring on labour...I then hand expressed colostrum after they were born until my milk came in (about 3-4 days later) and it was sufficient because the girls were on an IV drip, and any colostrum was just an "added bonus". Sharne - I was told that a premmie digestive system isn't developed enough until approx 34 weeks to digest any milk/colostrum? That aside, we only used formula because I couldn't produce enough breast milk via pumping to feed both girls, and then we used a 50/50 mix of EBM and formula.]]> Tue, 06 Apr 2010 08:55:25 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988673&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988673 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988637&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988637 Author: kebakat
Subject: 32664
Posted: 06 April 2010 at 8:11am

SER wrote: My MW suggested this to me last time i saw her. Because my last baby came at 34 weeks she would like me to start around 31-32 weeks so i will have some ready when bubs arrives and won't need to use formula.

That sounds like weird advice considering nipple stimulation is one of those things that could bring on labour ]]> Tue, 06 Apr 2010 08:11:00 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988637&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988637 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988525&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988525 Author: mamanee
Subject: 32664
Posted: 05 April 2010 at 9:18pm

SER wrote: My MW suggested this to me last time i saw her. Because my last baby came at 34 weeks she would like me to start around 31-32 weeks so i will have some ready when bubs arrives and won't need to use formula.

I don't understand that.   How much could you get while pregnant? Expressing is pretty rough on your nipples, even when you have milk there.    Once your baby is born surely your body will start producing enough colostrum and then milk and you'll be able to express then..   ]]> Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:18:31 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988525&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988525 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988453&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988453 Author: J&Ls mum
Subject: 32664
Posted: 05 April 2010 at 8:07pm

My MW suggested this to me last time i saw her. Because my last baby came at 34 weeks she would like me to start around 31-32 weeks so i will have some ready when bubs arrives and won't need to use formula.]]> Mon, 05 Apr 2010 20:07:48 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988453&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988453 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988377&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988377 Author: fire_engine
Subject: 32664
Posted: 05 April 2010 at 7:15pm

maya22 wrote: This is how the system is designed, and how it works best in 99.9% of situations. AFAIK it is very very rare for a full-term healthy baby to need to be supplemented in any way.

Not that rare. Can depend on lots of things like mum's iron levels, blood loss, drugs during labour ...

Usually supplementary feeding isn't offered until day 3 (I'm not sure if that is policy but is general practice given the whole baby-friendly initiative) and you are encouraged (made) to express after any supplementary feed is given.

But yes, it is liquid gold. I remember finally getting about 5ml and DH knocked it over . I was so upset and angry I couldn't speak.]]> Mon, 05 Apr 2010 19:15:13 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988377&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988377 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988223&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988223 Author: High9
Subject: 32664
Posted: 05 April 2010 at 3:24pm

Yeah Liquid gold alright! I hand expressed for 2 days straight and managed to get 1ml in about an hour...

It's also important after bubs is born to get baby onto your breast as soon as possible to help bring in your milk. ]]> Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:24:13 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988223&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988223 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988169&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988169 Author: angel4
Subject: 32664
Posted: 05 April 2010 at 1:58pm

I agree with what everyone has said.
Wanted to add though that you wouldnt use a pump to express colostrum anyway as there isnt enough. You hand express and collect drops (yes drops) with a syringe. I had to hand express colostrum after my first was born with a tongue tie and couldn't latch. It is very time consuming, me and a midwife would be expressing non stop in order to get 5mls to give him every couple hours.

In all honesty i wouldnt do it - unless there was a high chance bubs would need colostrum expressed straight after birth. Eg diabetic, or going into SCBU/NICU for a known reason.

Hope that helps and good luck for the rest of the pregnancy]]> Mon, 05 Apr 2010 13:58:45 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988169&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988169 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988168&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988168 Author: maya22
Subject: 32664
Posted: 05 April 2010 at 1:56pm

squoggs wrote: The reason I am curious is that I want to avoid the stress of having no milk for up to a few days after the baby arrives, and wondered if I could get the milk going earlier.

This is how the system is designed, and how it works best in 99.9% of situations. AFAIK it is very very rare for a full-term healthy baby to need to be supplemented in any way. It is fine for your milk not to come in for a few days, it is expected that a baby will lose 10% of birthweight after birth.

Unfortunately as much as you want to prepare for every eventuality, childbirth and a newborn gives you very little opportunity. As much as you can be in control of the rest of your life, this is one of those situations where you have to wing it and trust in yourself.

To be honest the idea of expressing before birth just makes me wince - the last thing you want to do is try to force your body to do something it can't and having bruised and sore nipples is not going to help you later. ]]> Mon, 05 Apr 2010 13:56:04 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988168&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988168 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988159&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988159 Author: WestiesGirl
Subject: 32664
Posted: 05 April 2010 at 1:50pm

I expressed the most tiniest amount of colostrum while I was pregnant. But I did it to bring on labour (or so they say). I dont think I got any more than 5mls so definitely not enough to freeze.

My milk didnt come through until Jackson was 2 days old ]]> Mon, 05 Apr 2010 13:50:37 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988159&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988159 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988153&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988153 Author: Shezamumof3
Subject: 32664
Posted: 05 April 2010 at 1:44pm

Ive never heard of that before, I didnt even have colostrum until after my babies were born!]]> Mon, 05 Apr 2010 13:44:21 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988153&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988153 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988125&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988125 Author: caliandjack
Subject: 32664
Posted: 05 April 2010 at 1:26pm

This only from the preggy books I've been reading, you can get colostrum before the baby is born and there is nothing wrong with expressing this and freezing it and bringing it with you to the birth.

No idea how easy this is?

I wouldn't have thought she'd be in milk before the birth, as it seems to come in a couple of days after.]]> Mon, 05 Apr 2010 13:26:49 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988125&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988125 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988111&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988111 Author: weegee
Subject: 32664
Posted: 05 April 2010 at 1:05pm

Something happens to your hormones once baby arrives (to do with a hormone drop when the placenta is delivered) which sends the signal to your milk to 'come in' and as long as you're still pregnant you can't get that going. I'd highly recommend reading the article on kellymom about how milk production works, it will answer some questions for later on too

You can express some colostrum before baby arrives, but we're only talking tiny amounts (like you often need a syringe to suck it up off the pump), especially if this is bubba # 1. It's not called liquid gold for nothing! You would certainly not get a weeks worth unless, as the others have pointed out, you were already feeding an older child, in which case it's a possibility. I'm in the latter category and intend to express off a bit of colostrum at the very end of my pregnancy, just in case things go pear shaped and I need to have colostrum handy (for example if baby ends up in SCBU/NICU for whatever reason).

Regardless, you need to be feeding baby as often as possible for as long as possible in those first few days to develop the right receptors and things so that you will have a plentiful milk supply, so if you had some spare milk sitting there, there would be a real danger you wouldn't breastfeed as often and therefore you would be stuck with a low supply, which you definitely don't want!

One other thing to note is that prolonged nipple stimulation can induce labour so I'd be very careful doing it before term! The most I've ever heard of a still pregnant mum managing to express before birth is 80mL and it took her ages (she was trying to bring on labour - it worked eventually!).]]> Mon, 05 Apr 2010 13:05:15 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988111&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988111 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988071&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988071 Author: mamanee
Subject: 32664
Posted: 05 April 2010 at 12:11pm

Yeah I wouldn't think it possible to be able to do that unless you were already breastfeeding an older child.

I think the couple of days before your milk properly comes in, it's important for your baby to get all that colostrum from you rather than the milk that comes later on.     It's also good for you too, as breastfeeding in those early days gets your uterus to contract, and helps to bring on your milk.]]> Mon, 05 Apr 2010 12:11:10 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988071&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988071 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988054&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988054 Author: kebakat
Subject: 32664
Posted: 05 April 2010 at 11:44am

I didn't think that was at all possible unless you are already BF.

My understanding is that although you may have a little collostrum now expressing won't make enough of it and your milk won't come in until your hormones are altered after having bubs]]> Mon, 05 Apr 2010 11:44:53 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988054&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988054 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988050&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988050 Author: squoggs
Subject: 32664
Posted: 05 April 2010 at 11:41am

Hi, sorry this is a pretty random question, and I wasn't sure which topic to put it under.

A friend of a friend (who is a nurse) expressed milk starting a week before her baby arrived, and saved it so she would always have a spare weeks worth available. I have only heard about it through my friend, and she didn't know any more than this.

What I want to know is, can anyone do this? Does milk just come when you start to express? Or would she have had to have some sort of medication to bring on the milk? The reason I am curious is that I want to avoid the stress of having no milk for up to a few days after the baby arrives, and wondered if I could get the milk going earlier.

Thanks in advance for your answers ]]> Mon, 05 Apr 2010 11:41:44 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32664&PID=988050&title=can-you-express-before-baby-arrives#988050