Stimulating lactation..

pink_princess · Oct 5th, 2009, 14:46 PM

Hi girls,

Not sure if anyone can shed any light but i have been advised by my midwife to start using a breast pump a few times a day to help stimulate lactatipn as i am on meds for an inherited kidney condition that may slow milk production down.

I have started doing this and end up getting a small amount of milk/colostrum. I am getting concerned that i will get all the colostrum out and there will be none for baby, do u think this will happen? There isnt really enough to save!

Also hoping it might kick start things!! 38+2 now!! want to meet my little man

Thanks

Ellie x

pink_princess · Oct 5th, 2009, 14:48 PM

Just seen b-feeding forum...will ask on there too

anothersquish · Oct 5th, 2009, 14:51 PM

To help you now....colostrum does not usually come in til after birth even if you express so I have been informed by one person (but she is NOT a lactation specialist) what I would do is I would start to freeze anything you express and this can be kept for up to three months, defrosted and given in a bottle. This means if you are expressing colostrum you can save it and give it to baby anyway.

pink_princess · Oct 5th, 2009, 14:54 PM

ok, thanks for that!! x

AtomicPink · Oct 5th, 2009, 15:28 PM

Yup its more common than you think to express before baby comes. The neonatal staff told me many mums do this - mad huh?

angelstardust · Oct 5th, 2009, 15:36 PM

Don't worry, you don't have a 'set amount' of colostrum, it is 'made to order' so to speak.

Stimulation causes hormones to be released that makes your breasts produce colostrum while you have high levels of progesterone (which the placenta produces and it takes a few days for the progesterone levels to drop after birth which is why you get colostrum the first few days until your body starts producing milk).

So pump away.

Aslo head to your chemist and ask for a few medicine syringes, they may cost about 50p each or be free depending on how generous they are. They are sterile when you buy them and you can use them to suck up any colostrum you get and can be frozen.

florabean1981 · Oct 5th, 2009, 17:00 PM

i wondered this too & also heard that it can make the uterus contract & kinda kick start labour. Might give it a try.

Oct 5th, 2009, 14:46 PM	#1
pink_princess Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 60	Stimulating lactation.. Hi girls, Not sure if anyone can shed any light but i have been advised by my midwife to start using a breast pump a few times a day to help stimulate lactatipn as i am on meds for an inherited kidney condition that may slow milk production down. I have started doing this and end up getting a small amount of milk/colostrum. I am getting concerned that i will get all the colostrum out and there will be none for baby, do u think this will happen? There isnt really enough to save! Also hoping it might kick start things!! 38+2 now!! want to meet my little man Thanks Ellie x

Status: Offline

Oct 5th, 2009, 14:48 PM	#2
pink_princess Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 60	Just seen b-feeding forum...will ask on there too

Status: Offline

Oct 5th, 2009, 14:51 PM	#3
anothersquish Mum (Mom) Inactive Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5,415	To help you now....colostrum does not usually come in til after birth even if you express so I have been informed by one person (but she is NOT a lactation specialist) what I would do is I would start to freeze anything you express and this can be kept for up to three months, defrosted and given in a bottle. This means if you are expressing colostrum you can save it and give it to baby anyway.

Status: Offline

Oct 5th, 2009, 14:54 PM	#4
pink_princess Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 60	ok, thanks for that!! x

Status: Offline

Oct 5th, 2009, 15:28 PM	#5
AtomicPink Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Scotland Posts: 19,122	Yup its more common than you think to express before baby comes. The neonatal staff told me many mums do this - mad huh?

Status: Offline

Oct 5th, 2009, 15:36 PM	#6
angelstardust Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Ayrshire, Scotland Posts: 2,318	Don't worry, you don't have a 'set amount' of colostrum, it is 'made to order' so to speak. Stimulation causes hormones to be released that makes your breasts produce colostrum while you have high levels of progesterone (which the placenta produces and it takes a few days for the progesterone levels to drop after birth which is why you get colostrum the first few days until your body starts producing milk). So pump away. Aslo head to your chemist and ask for a few medicine syringes, they may cost about 50p each or be free depending on how generous they are. They are sterile when you buy them and you can use them to suck up any colostrum you get and can be frozen.

Status: Offline

Oct 5th, 2009, 17:00 PM	#7
florabean1981 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Gosport, Hampshire, UK Posts: 2,405	i wondered this too & also heard that it can make the uterus contract & kinda kick start labour. Might give it a try.

Status: Offline

Similar Threads
Stimulation lactation	Breastfeeding
Stimulating your baby	Baby Club
Nipple Stimulation?	Pregnancy - Third Trimester
UK Lactation Consultants & breastfeeding support	Breastfeeding
Niple stimulation	Pregnancy - Third Trimester

User Name		Remember Me?
Password