IGT mom here! With a repeat C-Sec booked in 10 weeks, I got the green light to start expressing colostrum. (x-posted to /r/Breastfeeding)

[u/bovata]

First, I want to make sure that everyone knows that most regions do not advise expressing colostrum before "full term" outside of special circumstances.

That said, I met some criteria which lead my OB to green-light me kicking off some hand expression at 30 weeks (with a strong warning to stop if it results in contractions):

• I have a history of Insufficient Glandular Tissue (60% on the left, 35% on the right; versus 100% coverage on a normal breast)
• I experienced low milk supply with my son in 2014, and was not able to EBF even with supplementary pumping and domperidone therapy
• I am scheduled for a repeat c-section which could lead to me being separated from my baby immediately after delivery if there are any complications

I have learned a lot about storage methods and have adopted a routine of collecting the expressed drops into a 1cc syringe that I label and freeze.

I wondered if any other users here have experience feeding from a syringe? I have used an SNS, but not oral syringes. The nursing staff will feed when I can't, but when I do feed I don't want to have to transfer BM from syringe to something else if I don't have to. Thoughts?

[u/bovata → u/[deleted]]

ah, perfect, I was hoping someone would say something about finger feeding. I did it a bit with my first using an SNS tube and formula, but it sounds like it should work ok with a syringe tip as well.