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Antenatal Hand Expression

Discussion in 'Beautiful Breastfeeding' started by Mkunga, Jan 11, 2012.

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  1. iolaus Education Moderator

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    I did it antenatally with the youngest, not that frequently but occasionally from 37weeks, had 5 or so syringes in the freezer, plan being if he didn't feed it was there - binned it in the end
    iolaus, Jan 11, 2012
    #11

  2. GrowingRoses Welfare Moderator

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    Yes it would definitely be in the phrasing of it.

    I'm struggling really to think of why we wouldn't be encouraging this and wondering if there is much evidence on it as theoretically it seems such a great idea that I would like to be suggesting this to women.
    GrowingRoses, Jan 11, 2012
    #12

  3. Growlie Techy Geek

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    I did a shift with a midwife who I think recommended it. I don't remember who it was though so i can't recall the conversation properly!
    Growlie, Jan 11, 2012
    #13

  4. Growlie Techy Geek

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    Just found this article... Really interesting.
    http://www.rcm.org.uk/midwives/features/how-to-teach-a-mother-the-technique-of-hand-expressing/

    Hand expressing is an under-utilised skill. Since the launch of the UK Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) in 1994, all breastfeeding women should be taught how to hand express their breastmilk (UNICEF, 2011).

    Hand expressing antenatally
    The reasons for hand expressing colostrum from 36 weeks’ gestation if not medically contraindicated are:
    ✲ It increases the mother’s awareness of how her breasts function
    ✲ It increases her confidence in handling her breasts and breastfeeding (Oscroft, 2001)
    ✲ Colostrum harvesting enables quantities of colostrum to be used to prevent episodes of hypoglycaemia in babies born to mothers who have diabetes maintaining exclusivity in breastfeeding (Clay, 2005)
    ✲ For babies diagnosed antenatally with cleft lip and/or palate or for other conditions such as breast hypoplasia, breast surgery that may indicate the possibility of early feeding problems and the increase in supplementation (Cox, 2006).
    Growlie, Jan 23, 2012
    #14

  5. Azalea Well-Known Member

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    They recommend it to all women who are diabetic in my unit. We do have a high incidence of gestational and type 1/2 diabetics in my local area though, so much so that ALL women are offered GTT in pregnancy. In the diabetic antenatal clinic there are diabetic nurses, midwives, doctors and dieticians working alongside each other in a one-stop clinic. They hand out tiny syringes to all the women attending from 36 wks onwards and explain how important it will be to keep their babies blood sugars up after birth. We routinely monitor all babies of diabetic mums after birth 3hrly including their pre-feed blood sugars.
    Azalea, Jan 23, 2012
    #15

  6. Penguin Moderatorgator

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    Irritated now that I was at a baby friendly hospital with my eldest and come under that category and it still was never mentioned :( things may have been different!

    At the trust where I work now we offer to teach all postnatal women hand expression but I've never seen it discussed antenatally
    Penguin, Jan 23, 2012
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  7. Penguin Moderatorgator

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    Irritated now that I was at a baby friendly hospital with my eldest and come under that category and it still was never mentioned :( things may have been different!

    At the trust where I work now we offer to teach all postnatal women hand expression but I've never seen it discussed antenatally
    Penguin, Jan 23, 2012
    #17

  8. Sunny Well-Known Member

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    I like the idea that it helps women to be more comfortable with the new function of their breasts and of course where its medically necessary then brilliant.

    However when I teach classes I've had women bewildered about it, whether that's because the reasoning behind it hasn't been fully explained I'm not sure, but the overwhelming impression I get is that 1) they think its too wierd to do antenatally and 2) they think its for preemie babies... and that idea in itself makes them twitchy.

    My take on it when I've been asked is that its a great way to familiarise yourself with how your breasts work and I always explain about the teensy amounts you get, but not to worry too much about it unless you know that you won't be able to directly breastfeed your baby after birth. I have to admit that I worry that if they can't express antenatally then it will really knock their confidence.

    This thread has given me something to think about tho, really interesting.
    Sunny, Jan 23, 2012
    #18
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