Hand expression It is often called liquid gold. Starting hand expression late in pregnancy can help you to have an easier time starting and continuing breastfeeding. It may also help your body get ready for labour. You'll need to discuss whether starting is safe with your doctor or midwife, but generally, it is safe to begin massage and expression after 36 weeks gestation.
At IWK Health, we provide all eligible patients with a More Milk Sooner kit - which includes an instructional handout, and 3 syringes to bring to hospital.
In general, we'd suggest starting hand expression:
- once daily starting at 36 weeks
- 3-4 times/day at 37 weeks
- continue massage and expression (saving and freezing any drops of colostrum you're able to get in a food safe container) until you have your baby.
- bring 3 syringes of frozen colostrum to hospital with you - as "just in case" extra volume.. but hopefully if you'll have good familiarity with expression and have plenty of colostrum coming from your breasts and it may not be needed.
- if you have gestational diabetes and take insulin: your baby is more likely to have low blood sugar after birth, so bring more syringes if you have them to avoid having to supplement them with anything but your own colostrum.
Please know that the volume you get will vary
Some may get no colostrum, while others may get syringes full. Do not be discouraged if you don't get colostrum, and don't stop the process. The massaging of your breasts will stimulate milk making cells to be ready when baby comes.
The following More Milk Sooner handouts are available in a number of languages:
If you've got questions or would like to know more about antenatal colostrum expression, check out the More Milk Sooner website.
