Antenatal Expression of Colostrum
You may have heard colostrum referred to as liquid gold. Expectant mothers start to produce colostrum very early in pregnancy. Antenatal expression of colostrum can be a very helpful tool when may it be required?
When to start Antenatal Expression of Colostrum
As long as you have not been advised not to have sexual relations in pregnancy for medical reasons you should be safe to start practicing from 32 to 34 weeks of pregnancy.
Colostrum can be saved from 36 weeks of pregnancy, when it drips more easily from the breast. Many mothers wait until 37 weeks because they do not want to induce labour. But many women feed throughout pregnancy and this does not make them go into premature labour or miscarry the babies they are carrying.
Talk to you midwife
As every area of the country is different and your NHS prevision may have its own guidelines, polices and information on antenatal expression of colostrum. You are also an individual with your own antenatal history so your midwife will be able to advise the best course of action in your individual circumstances.
Antenatal Expression of Colostrum
Hygiene and Storage of Expressed Colostrum
Always wash your hands before you start hand expressing and handling any expressed products.
Always label the container and if not using it the same day, freeze.
Label with mothers name, date of birth, date expressed and time expressed. Also check on your own hospitals procedures because if your baby is in a specialised facility, such as a special care baby unit, they will have their own polices.
Keep it in the freezer until you go into labour.
When you go into labour
Transport your stored colostrum into hospital with you in a cool bag with ice blocks. The hospital will arrange for this to be stored following their guidelines. Ensure that they detail in your notes you have brought in the colostrum and where it is stored.
Why hand express?
Why hand express and not just use formula? If you get into difficulties, formula supplementation, particularly early on, can have a devastating effect on breastfeeding success. In addition, formula supplementation – even just one bottle – can carry health risks for the infant. See the article in the resource section below.
Hand expression gets easier with practice and is simple to learn. There are also lots of resources out there to help too.
You only need to express very small amounts of colostrum as you only realistically get a few drops in 3-5 minutes. Unlike the video demonstration where you can see streams of mature milk.
Your babies first feed is only likely to be less than a teaspoon as the babies tummy is smaller than a marble in size and colostrum is very thick and high in calories.
Resources and further reading
Butler, K., (2013) Diabetes and Breastfeeding, Information sheet No.2810, La Leche League Great Britain. Nottingham
Butler, K., Upstone, S., (2010) Storing your milk, Information sheet No.2807, La Leche League Great Britain. Nottingham
Butler, K., Upstone, S., (2012) Antenatal Expression of Colostrum, Information sheet No.2811, La Leche League Great Britain. Nottingham
Cox, S. G. (2006). Expressing and storing colostrum antenatally for use in the newborn period. Breastfeeding Review, 14(3), 11-16.
Cox, S. G. (2010). An ethical dilemma: should recommending antenatal expressing and storing of colostrum continue? Breastfeeding Review, 18(3), 5-7.
Forster DA, McEgan K, Ford R, Moorhead A, Opie G, Walker S, McNamara C 2011, Diabetes and antenatal expressing: a pilot project to inform the development of a randomised controlled trial. Midwifery 27: 209-214.
Mothers of La Leche Leaague BG, (2013) Hand Expression of Breastmilk, Information sheet No.3302 La Leche Legue Great Britain. Nottingham
Mothers of La Leche Leaague BG, (2012) Twins and more, Information sheet No.3203 La Leche Legue Great Britain. Nottingham
Soltani H, Scott AMS 2012, Antenatal breast expression in women with diabetes: outcomes from a retrospective cohort study. International Breastfeeding Journal 7:18.
Service, W. S. H. (2012, June 2012). Antenatal Milk Expressing Retrieved January 31, 2013, from http://www.healthpoint.co.nz/download,322591.do
Walker, M. (2004). Just One Bottle Won’t Hurt – or Will It? Retrieved December 11, 2015
Written by Bex Hough January 2016
© 2014-2020
Mama’s Instinct
Antenatal Education Classes | Holistic Pregnancy, Birth and Parenting Specialist | Early Years Expert | Breastfeeding Counselor & Breastfeeding Specialist
Canterbury Road
Gravesend
Kent
DA12 5PD
bex@mamasinstinct.co.uk
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