How to Express Colostrum

Опубликовал Admin
20-10-2020, 17:20
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Colostrum is the rich, first milk that a mother produces for her baby. You can breastfeed your baby to provide them with this milk, or you can express colostrum and offer it to them with a teaspoon or bottle. Hand expression is the most effective way to collect colostrum, but you can also collect colostrum using a hospital grade breast milk pump. After you collect the desired amount of colostrum, you can feed it to your baby or store it for later. You can start expressing and saving colostrum at 36 weeks pregnant, but check with your healthcare provider first if you are at risk of early labor.

Expressing by Hand

  1. Wash your hands before you start. Hold your hands under warm running water and lather them up with soap. Rub the soap between your hands for 20 seconds, or the time it takes to hum the “Happy Birthday” song twice.
  2. Massage your breast working towards the nipple. Press your fingertips into your breast near where it meets your armpit. Massage the breast tissue using circular motions and working towards your nipple. Continue massaging for about 2 minutes.
    • Only massage 1 breast at a time since you will need a free hand to hold the collection cup.
    • You can use your dominant or non-dominant hand to massage and express. Use whichever hand feels more comfortable.
  3. Roll your nipple between your forefinger and thumb. After massaging the breast, use your forefinger and thumb to gently pinch the nipple about ⁄2 in (1.3 cm) from the tip. Roll the nipple back and forth between your forefinger and thumb for about 1 minute.
    • Don’t pinch too hard or you may hurt yourself! Keep a gentle but firm grip.
  4. Form a C with your hand and cup your breast around the areola. Angle your hand so that it is cupping your breast. Position your fingers and thumb so they are on opposite sides of your areola (the outside of your nipple), but not touching your areola.
    • You may not be able to cup your entire breast in your hand, especially if you have large breasts, but that is okay.
  5. Push against your breast and squeeze over the collection cup. Hold the collection cup under your nipple and press back towards your chest and squeeze the breast tissue at the same time. Squeeze gently without changing the position of your hand. Continue to cup your breast with your hand forming a C as you press and squeeze.
    • After 1 to 2 minutes of this, your breast should start to release colostrum into the collection cup.
    • You can hand express into a small cup or into a teaspoon if you want to feed the colostrum to your baby immediately.
  6. Release and repeat the motion. After you finish 1 press and squeeze, release without removing your hand from your breast. Then, press and squeeze again in the same position. Continue to express milk into the collection cup in this way for 20 to 30 minutes or until you get the desired amount of colostrum.
    • It’s okay to stop and start again if you need to. Aim to hand express as often as your baby would need to nurse if they are not able to do so, such as once every 2 to 3 hours.

Using a Breast Pump

  1. Choose a hospital grade pump for frequent milk expression. It’s best to use a hospital-grade double pump, especially if you plan to pump exclusively or if you will need to pump for the first few days or weeks of your baby’s life. You can purchase or rent a pump. Your insurance might even cover the cost of a hospital-grade pump.
    • Plan to pump between 8 to 10 times in a 24 hours period including at least 1 nighttime pumping session. This will help to ensure adequate stimulation and send the signal to your body to make more milk.
  2. Wash your hands before you begin pumping. Hold your hands under warm running water and lather them up with soap for about 20 seconds. Then, rinse your hands well and dry them with a clean, dry towel.
    • If you need a way to time yourself for 20 seconds, hum the happy birthday song twice.
    • Always wash your hands before you begin pumping to reduce the chances of contaminating the colostrum.
  3. Wash and assemble the pump according to the instructions. If it’s the first time you are using the pump, read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Make sure to wash and sterilize all of the parts including the tubing and collection bottles according to the manufacturer’s instructions before you use it.
    • Wash the pump parts by placing them into your dishwasher or by hand washing them.
    • You may need to sterilize the parts as well, such as by boiling or steam sterilizing them. Check the instructions to find out what’s recommended.
  4. Place the breast shield over 1 or both breasts. Position the breast shield so that your nipple is at the open part of the funnel. If you have a double pump, then you can hold the breast shield pieces over both nipples, or you can use a pumping bra to leave your hands free. If you only want to pump on 1 side at a time, then hold the breast shield over 1 nipple.
    • If your pump came with different sizes of breast shields, try each of them out to see which fits best. You might find it easier to collect colostrum with a certain size shield.
  5. Switch on the pump and leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes. Once the breast shield is in position, turn your pump on to the lowest setting. Then, once your milk starts flowing, you can increase the suction to remove more colostrum. Continue to pump until your breasts are empty. They will feel soft once they are empty.
  6. Clean the pump parts after you finish using them. Follow your manufacturer’s instructions for how to clean the breast pump parts after use. You may need to wash them by hand, sterilize them with steam, or they might be dishwasher safe.
    • Store the parts in a clean, dry place along with your breast pump.

Using and Storing Colostrum

  1. Wait until you are 36 weeks pregnant to begin expressing colostrum. You can start practicing hand expression techniques for a few minutes per day starting at around 32 weeks pregnant, but you should wait until 36 weeks to start expressing colostrum. Although a few minutes of hand expression daily is unlikely to trigger labor, it's best to check with your healthcare provider before expressing colostrum if you are at risk of going into labor early.
  2. Determine if expressing colostrum before giving birth is necessary. Some women start expressing colostrum before giving birth due to medical circumstances. These may include a condition that might make it harder for your baby to breastfeed, or something that might affect your ability to breastfeed. You might want to express colostrum early if you have:
    • A baby with a cleft lip or palate
    • Diabetes
    • A planned caesarean section or induction
    • Other medical reasons that might interfere with breastfeeding after birth, such as needing to start a medication that is incompatible with breastfeeding
  3. Offer colostrum to your newborn with a teaspoon or bottle. If your baby is with you, then you can feed them the colostrum immediately. If you plan to breastfeed, then offer your baby the colostrum with a teaspoon. If you plan to bottle feed, then you can transfer the colostrum to a bottle and feed it to your baby this way.
  4. Transfer unused colostrum to a clean storage cup or breast milk bag. If you don’t need the colostrum right away, then transfer it to a clean storage cup with a tight fitting lid or to a resealable breastmilk storage bag. Then, you can refrigerate or freeze the colostrum depending on when you will need it.
    • Make sure the lid is on tight or the bag is sealed well.
  5. Refrigerate or freeze unused colostrum until you need it. After you transfer the colostrum to a storage container, refrigerate or freeze it. If you will use the colostrum within the next 3 days, you can refrigerate it. If you will not use the milk within the next 3 days, freeze it. Colostrum will keep in a freezer for 3 months.
    • If you plan to freeze the colostrum in a storage bag, make sure to write the date on the bag.
    • To defrost the colostrum, place it into the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight. Do not microwave the colostrum to defrost it! This will destroy the beneficial bacteria in the colostrum.

Tips

  • Make sure to use proper technique when hand expressing or pumping colostrum. Improper technique can cause bruising, discomfort, and even tissue damage.

Warnings

  • Hand expressing or pumping milk should never feel painful. If you experience pain, change the position of your hand or breast shield and try again.
  • If you notice a hard painful lump, this may indicate a blockage or infection. Consult your doctor or lactation consultant.

Things You’ll Need

Expressing by Hand

  • Hand soap
  • Clean towel or paper towel
  • Collection cup

Using a Breast Pump

  • Hand soap
  • Clean towel or paper towel
  • Breast pump
  • Collection cup

Using and Storing Colostrum

  • Teaspoon or bottle
  • Breastmilk storage container or breastmilk bag
  • Refrigerator or freezer
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