Welcome to my week 39 blog entry on antenatal expressing of colostrum. As a quick recap, I've been expressing since week 27 of pregnancy and storing colostrum since week 28 to mitigate breast discomfort. The discomfort felt like that full feeling you get when you're full of milk, although it's more concentrated in the centre of the breast like a marble. Following guidance from my midwife and the La Leche League, I have been expressing colostrum antenatally for 12 weeks and I have successfully circumnavigated the risk of pre-term labour. Please note, however that the amount of colostrum I am expressing is far greater than that which is usually expected for someone just starting out, simply because I've been doing it a lot longer.
I have a huge stash of colostrum in my freezer totalling over half a litre, so I know my little baby girl will have a plentiful supply if breast feeding gets off to a rocky start (as it did with my first one!)
It has still been challenging looking after a toddler and trying to find the time to express however I think I'll manage. It'll take much longer for baby to feed when she arrives so I will have to make do 😅
I have felt baby try and engage her head quite a lot this week, although it has been on and off... This is quite normal for a second pregnancy, according to my midwife, as second babies tend to 'bob up and down a bit' before finally settling. Hopefully she'll settle more next week.
My first born was at 39 weeks, 6 days so it's going to be difficult to predict exactly when the little lady will show her face. There's only a 17 month age gap and given that my muscles are more relaxed this time round and I'm not quite as big, I could carry her for longer...
I've continued to produce lots of colostrum and tried to remain reasonably active despite feeling massive and tired! I still manage to walk to the nursery with my husband most times to pick up my toddler which is about and hour's worth of exercise a day, plus whatever I can manage in the way of cleaning and household chores (which I personally count as exercise!)
I've also had the last bit of form filling to do from last week's car accident, however that situation is pretty much dealt with now, so I can just relax more and focus on baby.
My Colostrum Harvesting Diary at Week 39 of Pregnancy - Week commencing 16th March 2021
My last day of expressing was 15th March 2021 and I have continued to express twice daily.
16th March - 19ml total
- am 10ml
- pm 9ml
17th March - 17.65ml total
- am 8.1ml
- pm 9.55ml
18th March - 21ml total
- am 10.8ml
- pm 10.2ml
19th March - 20.8ml total
- am 11.1ml
- pm 1 5.1ml
- pm 2 4.6ml
20th March - 16.8ml total
- am 9ml
- pm 7.8ml
21st March - 24.3ml total
- am 13ml
- pm 11.3ml
22nd March - 18ml total
- am 10ml
- pm 8ml
Total expressed for the week: 137.55ml
Average daily amount: 19.65ml
Total expressed to date: 678ml
My pattern of antenatal expressing of colostrum over time since week 28:
As mentioned in my commentary in last week's blog, I've adjusted the median line on the above scatter graph to account for the sudden increase in volume of colostrum harvested when expressing 2-3 times a day from week 37: The steady 30 degree curve rises sharply into a 45 degree curve.
The same can be said for this graph as the above - it continues on a 45 degree trajectory.
Getting to due date and no baby yet...
As this is my second pregnancy, some my think that I'd have more of an idea as to when my baby will be arriving, however as my first was born at 39 weeks, 6 days, it's still a guessing game! It's incredibly rare for babies to be born on their exact due date as it's merely an approximate guide. While this time round I feel stronger and more able (a toddler keeps you fit!), I also am not as big as I was last time; I'm about half a stone lighter. So, I have been thinking that because of this, I may be able to carry baby for longer.
Some women tend to feel a lot of anxiety at this point, partly triggered by the impending birth as well as trying to 'bring on' labour... Well, if this blog is anything to go by, there's not a whole lot of 'brining on' that can help me! If expressing colostrum and a car accident in the latter weeks doesn't work then there's no point in me trying any old wives tales. I just remain calm knowing that baby will come when baby is ready... remembering that 40 weeks is not an eviction date!
I have been feeling even more tired this week than usual and I have had to ask my husband to take even more responsibility for our toddler while I try to gain some energy... I have tried not to nap in the day (just a personal preference) but I have been going to bed very early, like 8pm. I've also been cleaning as much as possible in preparation for baby.
I've tried to stay active too and have spend a bit of time on my birthing ball doing pelvic exercises however I've not been religious about it at all. I have been feeling a number of pelvic twinges too where baby's head has engaged, then bobbed up and down for a bit. You really feel the pressure when the head engages!
I must say that given what I have read on the subject of expressing colostrum during pregnancy from an early stage in the third trimester, I wasn't expecting to go to due date. However I have. I guess that while some medical studies point out that some women who did express colostrum during pregnancy delivered on average a week early, this is just not the case with me. I also don't know whether those women felt a physical sensation to express, like I did so early on, or whether they just decided to give it a try regardless. At least I can say that I've listened to my body and so far it's paid off... Just got the main event to happen now and the various medical checks on baby.
My Disclaimers
Firstly, I'm not a medical professional; I am simply a mum second time round and I'm just documenting my experience, that is all. This blog is not intended to be taken as advice or guidance in any way, but if it helps somebody make a more informed decision because they have read a bit more information on my experience then I'm glad to be of help. I would strongly advise people to talk to their medical professional first before expressing colostrum antenatally to ensure it is safe to do so.
Secondly, I need to provide a bit of background information about myself. I am 32 years old, I am a low risk pregnancy due on 23rd March 2021. I started producing colostrum naturally from week 27 of my pregnancy which is when I noticed the discomfort in my breasts, hence why I discovered how much I was producing and thought it was worthwhile saving. I already have a 15 month old boy who was initially breast fed but is now bottle fed cow's milk - this small gap between the pregnancies may have a part to play in influencing my body chemistry second time round.
Thirdly, this is a personal blog, not a scientific one. I'm simply documenting my thoughts, feelings, actions and anything useful that I can find, mostly for my own benefit.
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Read my week 40 blog to find out about the next installment of my colostrum harvesting diary.
Links to My Blogs on Antenatal Expressing of Colostrum
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