13/09/2023
We all love a massage 💜💆🏻♀️🤲🏻. Why we practice early ( post 36 weeks) This technique involves expressing colostrum in the final few weeks of pregnancy. It can also be referred to as ‘colostrum harvesting’ and is advocated by some NHS Trusts.
Mothers are normally advised to wait until around 36 weeks before starting antenatal expression. Mums who are having multiple births may sometimes start sooner as giving birth earlier is more likely.
🍑For some mothers, it can be a useful tool that helps ensure their baby will start life without the need for formula supplementation.
🍑breast milk can be slow to come in, and early expressing by hand may encourage it to start faster.
🍑It can get you used to and more confident with your breasts, as you get closer to welcoming your little one.
🍑we always encourage speaking to a specialist if you have any questions.
🍑Never feel embarrassed, the more questions you ask the more you find out. You then begin to learn how fabulous our bodies actually are.
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How to hand express:
* Always wash your hands before expressing.
* Applying a warm compress to your breast or expressing after a warm bath or shower can help the flow of colostrum.
* Get yourself comfortable. Perhaps seated and leaning slightly forward but find what works best for you.
* Start with a gentle breast massage, stroking from the back of your breast towards the ni**le to encourage the let-down reflex.
* Put your thumb above the ni**le and your first few fingers below the ni**le. You will be cupping the breast in a ‘C’ shape.
* With your thumb and fingers, feel a few centimetres back from the ni**le.
* Press back towards your chest, then compress (press your fingers together), and release.
* Repeat this process, building up a rhythm. Press, compress, and release.
* It may be useful to look online for videos of hand expression techniques.
