Expressing milk

[PixieAlly]

So during my childbirth class last night we watched a video and it showed a short clip on how to hand express milk. The teacher said we should go home and try to express colostrum (most of us are due within the month). I couldn't get anything to come out...is this a bad sign? Are all women able to get some kind of fluid out right before the baby is due or do some people just not express anything until after birth?

Ally

[avasmomleigh]

I don't know if it's normal, but the same thing happens to me. The volume of colostrum (especially pre-baby) is soooo much smaller than milk. I have to really squeeze to get a tiny droplet to come out(basically to make my nipple just a little wet, and only one side does it), but my milk came in fine with DD. Do you have any evidence of leaking at night? I sometimes have tiny dried flakes on my nipples. When my milk came with dd, I was overwhelmed by how much there was! I didn't even know that I was engorged because I couldn't believe that my breasts could still be relatively soft(I guess I expected them to be stretched and hard like having implants or something) and still have 10 gallons of milk in them. After DD was born I made the mistake of sleeping without a bra-and 'wet' the bed in my sleep-wow that was alot of milk!

[MonP'titBoudain]

I wouldn't worry about it. Some women are able to actually get something, some just a few drops, some nothing. You'll be fine when it comes time to nurse your little one! And baby will be happy to have all of that lovely colustrum (that your body will make)!

[rmzbm]

I wouldn't worry at all! What is the purpose of doing it anyway?

[PixieAlly]

Originally Posted by rmzbm

I wouldn't worry at all! What is the purpose of doing it anyway?

I think it was just for practice and maybe for fun?! We were talking about how some babies are very sleepy and it's difficult to get them to eat enough and she suggested we express a little milk and rub it on their lips to get them awake and interested.

Ally

[crazydiamond]

I wouldn't worry about it.

When I was pg with DD, I never got colostrum until after she was born. We nursed for 28 mos.

With this pg, though, I've had colostrum since about week 24 or so. I figure I have it this time because it's my 2nd pregnancy, but who really knows.

[PixieAlly]

Thanks everyone I just wasn't sure if this was something we're "suppose" to be able to do at this point or not. Looks like I'm normal!

Ally

[CherryBomb]

*LLL Leader hat on*

It is definitely NOT a bad sign! Whether or not you leak or can express colostrum during pregnancy has nothing to do with your ability to breastfeed after birth, or with how much milk you'll make. All women are different, some leak like water faucets during pregnancy and others can't express a drop, but almost all (99% give or take) will be able to breastfeed.

*hat off*

I wish the instructor would have pointed that out! I hope no other mamas were unable to express and were left fearing something could be wrong!

[FoxintheSnow]

I think that was bad advice on her part. I tried expressing during this pregnancy and yadda yadda yadda ended up with awful mastitis.