Should I hand express in pregnancy?

Why should I hand express in pregnancy?

Does the idea of hand expressing in pregnancy feel a little bit like a big fat nope!?

It definitely did to me. But unfortunately I didn't know WHY it was such a useful tool to have in my back pocket!

Hand expressing is actually pretty simple once you learn the technique, and it is amazing to see what your body produces for your baby! I think it's magical.

The main benefits of hand expressing in pregnancy:​

• You can collect colostrum - the first milk you make for your baby which is full of concentrated nutrients and a great boost for their immune system. Colostrum is a much better option for baby than formula if for some reason there is an issue with breastfeeding to start with, or you are separated from your baby.

• If you find you need to express milk after baby is born, you already know how to do it!

• It helps you feel confident to breastfeed - studies show that hand expressing in pregnancy increases confidence with and length of time you end up breastfeeding your baby!

• It's great to ease engorgement early on after birth.

• It is much cheaper (and quieter!) than a pump and it is not advised that you use a pump for the first few days after birth anyway.

You can hand express and collect colostrum from around 36 weeks but please make sure you discuss this with your midwife before going ahead.

Your midwife will provide you with syringes to collect and store your colostrum in and you just need to label and date the syringe and remember to bring them with you to the birth, and tell your midwife!

If you want to know any more about collecting colostrum or hand expressing I offer a Prep for Feeding one to one session which will provide you with some great tips and tools to help you feel prepared for feeding your baby via bottle or breast.

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