Is it bad to squeeze your breast during pregnancy?
You may have heard other expectant moms discuss expressing colostrum and are wondering what it means and if it is safe to do so.
This article will go into more detail about colostrum harvesting, safety concerns, and everything you need to know before your baby arrives.
Let’s go through this in more depth below.
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What Is Colostrum And How Is It Collected?
Colostrum is the thick and yellow (or thin and transparent) first milk that your breasts produce.
A few days after birth, this changes to the regular milk your baby will consume for the rest of your breastfeeding journey.
It is rich in nutrients and immune-boosting components. As a result, moms are often encouraged to feed their newborns as much colostrum as possible.
The process where expectant moms squeeze out colostrum is called Colostrum collection or harvesting.
Colostrum collection usually begins at about 37 weeks of pregnancy. It’s a simple process that involves massaging and expressing colostrum from your breasts with your hands.
The expressed colostrum can then be frozen and stored until the birth of your child.
Because colostrum is usually in small quantities, breast pumps are rarely used.
We’ll discuss the steps in detail later on.
SEE ALSO: How to prepare for breastfeeding before your baby arrives
Why Do Some Expectant Moms Collect Colostrum?
Colostrum harvesting may seem unusual to you, but it’s something that many midwives and maternal healthcare practitioners recommend.
In specific cases, such as the ones listed below, pregnant women (who want to exclusively breastfeed) may be encouraged to express their colostrum.
A. Pregnant Women With Gestational Diabetes
if you have gestational diabetes, type 1 or 2 diabetes, it is usually advised that you begin expressing and conserving colostrum at 32 weeks.
This is because shortly after birth, babies born to diabetic parents may develop hypoglycemia. This could lead to seizures or brain damage if left untreated.
Colostrum can help to keep blood sugar levels stable without the need for a special formulation.
More importantly, colostrum restores normal blood sugar levels far better than formula.
B. Breast Surgery Patients
Colostrum harvesting can benefit women who have had breast surgery or who have a history of low milk supply by ‘firing up’ their milk ducts and circulating colostrum through them.
Other women that fall into this category are women using beta-blockers to treat high blood pressure, women who have a BMI of more than 37 and women suffering from hormone imbalances.
RELATED POST: How to prepare your nipples for breastfeeding while pregnant
C. Babies That Have Trouble Breastfeeding
For various reasons, some babies may find it more challenging to breastfeed in the early days.
This can happen if:
- your baby is too big or too little for their gestational age,
- you’re expecting twins or triplets,
- your baby has a cleft lip or palate
- your newborn has a tongue tie and/or lip ties,
- they have a heart or other medical ailment such as Down’s Syndrome.
One of the benefits of harvesting colostrum while pregnant is that it allows both the mother and the baby to relax if the newborn is having difficulty latching at first.
This is critical since a new mom’s milk supply improves dramatically when she is peaceful and joyful.
Hand expression is a useful skill for all pregnant moms to learn so that if you are separated from your baby unexpectedly, they can get access to your milk right away.
Is It Bad To Squeeze Colostrum Out?
Under normal conditions, squeezing colostrum out before birth is safe.
The big worry here is that squeezing out colostrum could induce labor.
This is because nipple stimulation causes an increase in the hormone oxytocin, which is involved in both milk release and womb contraction.
However, if you express colostrum carefully and for no more than a few minutes each day, this is unlikely.
Because the amount of oxytocin released during each session is tiny and insufficient to induce a contraction.
It’s similar to the amount of oxytocin released by nipple stimulation during intercourse. Many pregnant women have sex without experiencing contractions.
However, if you start having contractions while expressing colostrum and you’re not yet full term, stop right away.
This large study found that it is safe for low-risk diabetic pregnant women to express colostrum while in late pregnancy.
This other study discovered that nipple stimulation during labor lowers the risk of complications and encourages vaginal birth.
Notwithstanding, you should speak to your midwife or obstetrician if you’re thinking about collecting colostrum before birth.
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Pregnant Women Who Should Not Harvest Colostrum
Although squeezing colostrum during pregnancy is beneficial. It is not suitable for all women.
Colostrum harvesting is not suggested for the following categories of women:
- Women who have a record of threatened early labor.
- Those who have had a premature baby before.
- Women who have had their cervix stitched to prevent premature labor.
- Women who have bled during pregnancy.
- Those whose foetus is not growing properly
- Women whose womb has too much fluid
How To Collect Colostrum
You’ll need a 1ml syringe and a label.
You should use a new syringe each time you collect colostrum. Each expression should be labelled with the date and time it was collected.
- Before you begin, wash your hands with soap and hot water, then dry them.
- Massage your breasts before you start, or try expressing after a warm bath or shower.
- Place your thumb and finger around 2 to 3cm from the base of your nipple in a cupped breast.
- Squeeze lightly with your thumb and the rest of your fingers in a C shape.
- Repeat the process on a different region of your breast by moving your fingers around it.
- Small droplets of colostrum should start to develop after a few trials; this may take some practice.
- Colostrum drops can be collected in a tiny syringe or sterile-covered container.
- You might discover that moving your fingers forward, toward your nipple, or away from your nipple, works better for you.
How To Store Colostrum
Expressed colostrum can be kept in the refrigerator for up to five days if maintained below 4°C.
Colostrum should not be kept in the door because it is often the warmest part of the fridge.
Colostrum can be kept in the refrigerator’s ice section for two weeks or frozen for up to six months.
Place the frozen colostrum in the fridge to defrost and use right away.
You can bring frozen expressed colostrum into the hospital.
This should be stored in a cooler bag, sandwiched between ice packs.
And when you arrive, inform a member of staff that you have frozen colostrum so that they can place it in the freezer for you.
Final Thoughts On Is It Bad To Squeeze Your Breast During Pregnancy?
Squeezing out colostrum (squeezing your breasts during pregnancy) may be recommended for you in certain conditions.
It is generally safe for most pregnant women to do but always consult with your midwife or ob-gyn before colostrum collection.
