Breastfeeding Question
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Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42264
Printed Date: 02 August 2025 at 9:41pm
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Topic: Breastfeeding Question
Posted By: mummadiamonds
Subject: Breastfeeding Question
Date Posted: 01 July 2012 at 7:17pm
Hi Ladies. I hope some of you second time mummies can answer a wee breastfeeding question I have. Due to have number 2 in 9 weeks so the countdown is on!
With my first birth two days after the bf advisor realised that i hadnt yet started producing colostrum so my baby was starving, I was put on pumps and later that night the colostrum came in, I had to keep pumping and eventually two more days later the milk came in. I know its normal for milk to take a few days but i always thought thats what the colostrum was for to kind of "get them through" until the milk.
I have been told by a couple of friends to start expressing about 36 weeks just once a day jsut until i can see the colostrum just so what when bubs arrives he only needs to do a few sucks to start getting the reward....
What do you think? Have any of you done this or had similar situations? The nurses had to give my first born a milk substitute via a seringe on night 2 as he was needing something, I was devistated that his first feed wasnt from me so want to avoid having the "no colostrum" thing again this time.
And advice be much appreciated xxxx
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Replies:
Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 01 July 2012 at 7:42pm
I would suggest contact your local Le lache legue breastfeeding group,...they have a website and facebook page.
Im not sure about expressing prior to giving birth,...did u mean expressing and saving the colostrum to feed to baby, or just stimulating your nipples? If u know how to hand express, have a wee go in the shower and you might see a tiny drop of colostrum,..they dont need much at all in the first few days.
If u dont know how to hand express I would suggest googling this and learing the skill,...its very useful particularly when your boobs are really full and u need to express a wee bit off before feeding abby so that can latch well.
The kellymom website is an excellent resource of great breastfeeding info.
I would also suggest doing the breastcrawl - ie letting abby slef latch after birth. Baby is placed immediatley onto you naked chest, and they stay there and make there own way to the breat and latch themselves, which hardwires their brain for instinctive feeding, greatly reducing latching probelms.
I hope some of that helps.
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Posted By: mummadiamonds
Date Posted: 01 July 2012 at 7:50pm
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Thanks Kellz. Last time we did all the skin to skin etc it was basically just the lack of colostrum which caused baby to starve for the first few days. I had been told to hand express just to get the colostrum in and ready for baby so I wont have the same trouble as last time. Just seems strange but will hopefully all work out second time around :)
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Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 01 July 2012 at 8:12pm
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Seems weird why the colostrum didnt come in if she was latching properly. I hope its all goes better for you this time.
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Posted By: Apri1
Date Posted: 04 July 2012 at 9:38am
I had the same problem when my daughter was born. Milk arrived later, before I had to give her formula. Pump only one breast at a time, massaging the breast as you do so. Your goal is to extract any milk that is available while you massage out the edema. Firm circular motions (the same that you would do to check for a breast lump) work well for both goals. Stop when milk no longer comes out. Short (5 to 10 minutes) and frequent (every 1 to 3 hours) pump sessions are your best bet.
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Posted By: Buntingsmum
Date Posted: 04 July 2012 at 8:39pm
Hi Chelseaquinn
I had to express colostrum from about 38 weeks for DS (#1) as I had gestational diabetes and they like to give those babes an extra shot at birth (to stop a drop in blood sugars). I'm not sure if it made a difference to my production but it makes sense that if your body is used to doing it then it'll keep coming!
I got a really good instruction pamphlet from a lactation consultant - it takes AGES just to get a mil or so - but well worth the effort. The lactation consultant at your local hospital should be able to help. Maybe also worth getting the little viles that you put the colostrum in and then freeze - take with you to hospital (if you're having a hospital birth - keep it frozen and then they thaw as you need it) so that if your baby does need more he/she is getting your 'gold'.
I know they don't recommend starting too early as it can bring on labour so maybe check how far out you should do it (38 weeks does ring a bell).
Good luck! Hopefully your body will just be like 'oh yeah I know what to do ... been there, done that!'
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Posted By: mummadiamonds
Date Posted: 04 July 2012 at 9:48pm
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Hey thanks so much that was just what I was wanting to hear...someone who HAS done it and it hasnt been detramental to their feeding. I want to do it for more an an insurance things so i KNOW i WILL have colostrum on day one for the baby to keep them healthy. I have just found out I am boarderline Gest diabeties so have to do a third test next week...having some spare colostrum might not be a bad thing!!!
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Posted By: Buntingsmum
Date Posted: 05 July 2012 at 8:33am
You're welcome. I was lucky in that breastfeeding was easy - not sure if the expressing helped but certainly didn't hinder. Was thinking about it after - maybe I did start earlier than 38 weeks?
I hope the test is OK. I was borderline too - but here they treat you like you're a diabetic just to be safe.
Def if you're borderline then chat to your MW about getting the stocks of colostrum up - mine was pretty proactive in that regard. GL!
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Posted By: mummadiamonds
Date Posted: 11 July 2012 at 2:08pm
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HI again...Question re the gest diabetes...turns out i do have it! Were you induced early or anything because of it?
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Posted By: Buntingsmum
Date Posted: 12 July 2012 at 3:32pm
Bummer! Sorry you have it. I was booked for an induction at 39 +4 (they don't normally like to let you go past 39 weeks but mine wasn't too severe) and was in hospital all ready to be induced and went into spontaneous labour. You will probably see an obstrician now(well I did) as a routine thing and she booked the induction.
Good luck with blood sugar monitoring and the eating! It's ok once you get the hang of it - go for low GI foods. Bit of a PITA but worth it so the baby isn't too big!
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